Amid strains of “Saare Jahan Se Achha…”, the majestic warship “Mormugao” slid gracefully into the Arabian Sea on Saturday, marking the launch of the Indian Navy’s second guided missile destroyer of Visakhapatnam class.
With a launch weight of 2844 tonnes, the vessel made its first contact with water at 11:58 am with full fanfare at a ceremony in which Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil lanba was the Chief Guest.
In keeping with maritime traditions, the incumbent Navy chief Admiral lanba’ s wife and President of Navy Wives Welfare Association (NWWA) Mrs Reena lanba broke a coconut on the ship’s bow and launched the ship, amid strains of “Saare Jahan Se Achha…” and an invocation from the Atharva Veda.
Speaking on the occasion, Admiral lanba said that the launch of “Mormugao” was yet another moment of truth for the Indian Navy and the country’s quest for self-reliance and indigenization. He said the newly launched warship could be compared with the best of stealth destroyers across the world.
“This event is yet another moment of truth for the Indian Navy and India’s quest for self-reliance and indigenisation. The Indian Navy stands fully committed to the call of ‘Make in India’. We are extremely proud of the fact that all of our warships and submarines on order today are being constructed within the country,” Admiral lanba said.
“The launch of Mormugao is also an affirmation of our resolve that the Indian Navy should attain a size and capability that is commensurate with India’s growing stature in the world, our national maritime interests, and our commitment to cooperation and collaboration towards ensuring secure seas for shaping a favourable and positive maritime environment,” Admiral lanba said.
Commending the e synergic partnership of MDl, Indian Navy, DRDO, OFB, BEl, other public sector enterprises and the private industry in the country, Admifral lanba said: “Ït ( the ship) secures the sea in a better way. The contract for this ship was signed on January 2011. It can be compared with best ships in the world and has been developed by our own designers at DRDO as well as other government agencies and private companies..There is a pressing need to build more such ships and reduce the construction period of future vessels”.
While ‘Mormugao’ is 68 per cent indigenous, including its steel, made by the Steel Authority of India ltd, some parts were developed as a joint venture between India’s Defence Research and Development Organization and Israel Aerospace Industries. “Over the years, the Indian content would increase, Admiral lanba said at a news conference held after the launch of Mormugao.
Admiral lanba said that since 1960 Indian Navy and MDl were building ships together. “MDl is the only dock in the country that has capability to build submarines,” he said.
Propelled by four gas turbines, Mormugao is 163 meters in length and17.4 meters at the beam. It is designed to achieve a speed of over 30 knots at a displacement of approx 7300 tons. This indigenously designed stealth destroyer will have state-of-the-art weapons, sensors, an advance Action Information System, in Integrated Platform Management system, sophisticated Power Distribution System and a host of other advanced features.
Fitted with supersonic surface-to-surface missile system, the technology enables the ship to engage shore-based and naval surface targets at long range making it a lethal platform for strike against enemy targets.
The ship’s air defence capability, designed to counter the threat of enemy aircraft and anti-ship cruise missiles, will revolve around the vertical launch and long range surface to air missile system.
Four 30 mm rapid-fire guns will provide the ship with close-in-defence capability while an MR gun will enable her to provide effective naval gunfire support. Indigenously developed twin tube torpedo launchers and rocket launchers will add punch to the ship’s anti-submarine capability.
Speaking to media persons after the launch of ‘Mormugao’, Admiral lanbva said that the Indian ship building activity was now moving on to integrated construction to reduce building time further.
“A ship, from its concept to commencement, generally takes 10—12 years anywhere in the world and now same period is required in India. We are gradually reducing the building period for our warships and moving on to integrated construction to reduce building time further,” he said.