Visakhapatnam-class destroyer

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Visakhapatnam (D66) - P15B destroyer of Indian Navy during sea trials.jpg
INS Visakhapatnam, the lead ship of the class.
Class overview
Name: Visakhapatnam-class
Builders: Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL)
Operators:  Indian Navy
Preceded by: class
Succeeded by: Project 18 "Next Generation Destroyer" (NGD)[1]
Cost:
  • 35,800 crore (US$5.0 billion) for four ships (FY 2020)
  • 8,950 crore (US$1.3 billion) per ship (FY 2020)
Planned: 4
Completed: 2
Active: 2
General characteristics
Type: Guided missile destroyer
Displacement: 7,400 t (7,300 long tons)[2]
Length: 163 m (534 ft 9 in)
Beam: 17.4 m (57 ft 1 in)
Draft: 6.5 m (21 ft 4 in)
Propulsion:
Speed: In excess of 33.5 knots (62.0 km/h; 38.6 mph)
Range: 4,000 nmi (7,400 km; 4,600 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Endurance: 45 days
Boats & landing
craft carried:
4 × RHIB
Crew: 300 (50 officers + 250 sailors)
Sensors and
processing systems:
Electronic warfare
& decoys:
Armament:
Aircraft carried: 2 × HAL Dhruv (or) Sea King Mk. 42B
Aviation facilities: Enclosed helicopter hangar and flight deck capable of accommodating two multi-role helicopters.
Notes: Modified derivative of the -class destroyer.[4]

The Visakhapatnam-class destroyers, also classified as the P-15 Bravo class, or simply P-15B, is a class of guided-missile destroyers currently being built for the Indian Navy.[5] The Visakhapatnam class is an upgraded derivative of its predecessor, the class, with improved features of stealth, automation and ordnance.[6]

Designed by the Warship Design Bureau (WDB), a total of four ships are being built by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL), under the Make in India initiative.[7] The first vessel of the class, INS Visakhapatnam was commissioned on 21 November 2021.[8] The Indian Navy plans to have all four destroyers in active service by 2024.[9]

Design[edit]

Development[edit]

The destroyers were designed by the Warship Design Bureau (formerly the Directorate of Naval Design), an internal establishment within the Indian Navy responsible for designing the service's warships, several among them including the -class submarines - India's first indigenously-designed nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, INS Vikrant - India's first indigenously-designed aircraft carrier, and the -class destroyers.[10]

The goal of the project was to develop a line of destroyers that were comparable to the Kolkata-class destroyers, with only several, yet incremental alterations - in order to minimize its development time and associated costs.[11]

The design plans of the four vessels were completed by the WDB in mid-2013.[12]

Comparison to the Kolkata-class destroyers[edit]

The P-15B is a derivative of the Kolkata-class destroyers (P-15A), a class of three stealth guided-missile destroyers, which currently serve as the Indian Navy's frontline destroyers; both classes feature several differences, with regard to their respective designs :-

  • Observed as one of the most distinctive features, the P-15B and the P-15A feature different bridge layouts; the P-15B's bridge was designed to minimize the vessel's radar cross-section (RCS) and enhance resilience.[11]
  • Unlike the P-15A, the P-15B features a "rail-less" helicopter traversing system meant for securing the vessel's helicopter, in the event of adverse weather conditions.[11]
  • Contrary to the P-15A destroyers - which features its sonar equipment at the hull, the P-15B vessels features its sonar equipment at the bow.[11]
  • The P-15B features a network-centric layout, equipped with a Ship Data Network (SDN), an Automatic Power Management System (APMS), as well as a Combat Management System (CMS).[11]

Features[edit]

  • The destroyers are equipped with a "Total Atmosphere Control System" (TAC), which allows them to operate in regions of nuclear fallout.[13] Additionally, the destroyers are also equipped with nuclear, biological and chemical warfare (NBC) protective equipment, with its entire requirement of air being filtered through NBC filters.[14]
  • An estimated 72% of the destroyers' components are indigenously sourced, as compared to 59% for the Kolkata-class destroyers and 42% for the -class destroyers.[15]
  • The destroyers feature multiple fire zones, battle damage control systems and distributional power systems for improved survivability and reliability in emergent conditions.[16]
  • The destroyers feature ergonomically-designed accommodations based on modular concepts, which ensures a significant amount of crew comfort.[17]

Naming[edit]

In accordance with naval traditions, the P-15B destroyers were christened after major Indian cities with historical and cultural connections, namely, Visakhapatnam, Mormugao, Imphal and Surat - representing the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Manipur and Gujarat.[18] Notably, INS Imphal and INS Mormugao were the first two destroyers to be christened as namesakes of important cities from the regions of Northeastern India and Goa, respectively.[19][20]

Instrumentation[edit]

Armament[edit]

  • Anti-surface warfare

For its anti-surface warfare (ASuW) capabilities, the class features sixteen Brahmos anti-ship cruise missiles, capable of speeds of up to Mach 3.[21] The BrahMos is widely regarded as one of the most formidable anti-ship missiles currently in service, given the missile's extreme versatility and maneuverability.[22]

Additionally, the vessels of the class are equipped with one OTO Melara 76 mm naval gun. Originally, the Indian Navy had planned to install the Mk-45 127 mm (5 in) naval gun, manufactured by BAE; however, this plan was scrapped in 2021, on account of financial constraints.[23]

  • Anti-air warfare

As part of its anti-air warfare (AAW) capabilities, the class features thirty-two Barak 8ER surface-to-air missiles, with sixteen missiles present in four "2 x 4" VLS configurations - with two placed at the bow and two placed aft.[24]

The Barak 8ER, also classified as the LR-SAM, is an "extended-range" variant of the original Barak 8 - designed to neutralize various aerial threats, including fighter aircraft, helicopters, anti-ship missiles, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV); the new variant is expected to feature a range of about 150 km (93 mi).[25]

For point defense, the vessels are equipped with four AK-630M close-in weapon systems (CIWS), with two systems on either side of the superstructure.[26]

  • Anti-submarine warfare

For its anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities, the class features two twin torpedo launchers, designed to launch heavyweight torpedoes - such as the Varunastra heavyweight torpedo, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO).[3][27] The class also features two RBU-6000 (RPK-8) anti-submarine rocket launchers, capable of firing ASW projectiles to depths of up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft).[3]

  • Aviation facilities

As part of its aviation facilities, the class is equipped with a flight deck and an enclosed aviation hangar, capable of two medium-sized helicopters – primarily the HAL Dhruv, or the Westland Sea King Mk. 42B.[3] Additionally, the ships are equipped with a "rail-less" helicopter traversing system, meant for securing the helicopter in case of adverse weather conditions at sea.[3]

  • Decoys

As for the class' defensive abilities, each destroyer is equipped with two Kavach anti-missile decoy systems for neutralizing incoming aerial threats at short ranges.[26]

Sensors[edit]

  • Radar

The class features the IAI EL/M-2248 MF-STAR S band active electronically scanned array radar, as its primary radar suite.[3] The EL/M-2248 is a multi-function, phased-array radar system featuring an azimuth of 360o, with the capability to track both aerial and surface targets - at a range of over 450 km (280 mi).[28]

The class further features the Thales LW-08 (BEL RAWL-02) as its secondary secondary radar suite.[29] The LW-08 is a solid-state, two-dimensional, long-range D band surveillance radar, meant for providing target acquisition against aerial and surface threats.[29] It is capable of operating in a cluttered electronic environment, equipped with an instrumental range of 270 km (170 mi), with the capability to track both cruise missiles and fighter aircraft.[29]

  • Sonar

The class is equipped with the BEL HUMSA-NG sonar, a hull-mounted "active cum passive" integrated sonar system developed by the DRDO.[29] The HUMSA-NG is capable of detecting, classifying and tracking sub-surface targets in both active and passive modes, with the capability to simultaneously track up to eight targets.[29] The destroyers are also equipped with the BEL Nagin active towed array sonar.[30]

  • Electronic warfare

As for its capabilities in electronic warfare (EW), the destroyers are equipped with the DRDL Shakthi EW suite, designed to provide Indian warships an electronic layer of defense against modern radars and anti-ship missiles.[31] Designed to augment the electronic intelligence capabilities of the Indian Navy, Shakthi is equipped with wideband electronic support measures (ESM) and electronic countermeasures (ECM), meant for intercepting, classifying and jamming both conventional and modern radars.[32] Additionally, the suite is also equipped with an in-build radar fingerprinting and data recording replay feature for post-mission analysis and evaluation.[33]

History[edit]

Background[edit]

In March 2009, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the arms-procurement wing of India's Ministry of Defence, approved the procurement of four 6,800 t destroyers, to be built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL).[34]

Designed as a "follow-on" project to the Kolkata-class destroyers, the new destroyers were envisaged to feature only incremental changes to the former, in order to minimize developmental time and costs.[34] At the time of the project's approval, the four new destroyers were envisaged to be more cheaper than other destroyer classes being built at the time, namely, the -class destroyers, the Daring-class destroyers and the -class destroyers.[35]

No competitive bidding was conducted for the development of the vessels, since MDL was the only Indian shipyard at the time with the capability to build destroyers.[36]

The contract for the construction of the four warships was signed on 28 January 2011, at an estimated cost of INR ₹29,643.74 crore.[37]

Construction[edit]

The unfinished hull of INS Visakhapatnam, on the day of its launch.

The keel of the first vessel, INS Visakhapatnam, was laid by MDL in October 2013 and the ship was launched on 20 April 2015, in a ceremony attended by then-Indian naval chief Robin K. Dhowan.[38] Originally slated to enter service in 2018, the delivery of the vessel was delayed by three years, owing to delays in the supply of the vessel's sensors and ordnance.[39]

In July 2019, a minor fire broke aboard the unfinished-Visakhapatnam, leaving one contract worker dead and another two injured.[40] Irrespectively, the fire was noted to have not caused any hindrance to the vessel's construction schedule; the shipyard's construction activities subsequently resumed without delay.[41]

Visakhapatnam completed its basin trials in December 2020 and subsequently proceeded for its sea trials in 2021. Initially scheduled to be delivered in April 2021, the vessel was delivered on October 28, owing to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[42]On 21 November 2021, Visakhapatnam was commissioned into Indian Navy.[43]

The second vessel of the class, Mormugao, was laid in June 2015, before being launched in September 2016.[44] [45]Completing its basin trials in early-December 2021, the destroyer proceed on its maiden sea sortie on 19 December, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of Goa Liberation Day.[46] Mormugao was delivered to the Indian Navy almost a year later, on 24 November 2022 and was commissioned on 18 December 2022.[47]

Construction of the third vessel, INS Imphal, began with the laying of its keel in May 2017; the hull was later launched on 20 April 2019, in a ceremony attended by then-Indian naval chief Sunil Lanba.[48] As of November 2021, Imphal is reported to be in the stages of outfitting, and is likely scheduled to be commissioned in 2023.[49]

Construction on the final vessel of the class, INS Surat, began in July 2018; the hull was subsequently launched 17 May 2022, in a ceremony coinciding with the launch of INS Udaygiri, a Nilgiri-class frigate.[50] Surat is scheduled to be commissioned in 2024.[51]

Operational history[edit]

On 11 January 2022, only two months after its commissioning, Visakhapatnam successfully test-fired an upgraded variant of the BrahMos anti-ship missile, which was subsequently followed by another successful test-fire on 18 February.[52][53] The destroyer later took part in the 12th edition of the Indian Navy's "Presidential Fleet Review" on 21 February 2022, an event which was attended by Indian president Ram Nath Kovind and Indian naval chief R. Hari Kumar.[54]

Ships in the class[edit]

Name Pennant Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned Homeport Status
Visakhapatnam D66 12704 Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) 12 October 2013[55][56] 20 April 2015[57] 21 November 2021[58][59] Active
Mormugao D67 12705 4 June 2015[60] 17 September 2016[61] 18 December 2022 [62][63]
Imphal D68 12706 19 May 2017[64] 20 April 2019[65] 2023 (Estimated)[66] Launched[67]
Surat D69 12707 19 July 2018[68] 17 May 2022[69] 2024 (Estimated)[51] Launched [70]

Gallery[edit]

See also[edit]

Other references to the Indian Navy[edit]

Other destroyers of comparable configurations and capabilities[edit]

References[edit]

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  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "Project 15B Guided Missile Destroyers, Mazagon Dock Limited".
  4. "Project 15B Guided Missile Destroyers".
  5. "INS Visakhapatnam Commissioned into the Indian Navy: November 2021". 24 November 2021.
  6. "Indian Navy Commissions First P15B Destroyer INS Visakhapatnam". 21 November 2021.
  7. "Indian Navy to commission first of four Visakhapatnam class destroyers on Nov 21".
  8. "Indian Navy Receives Indigenous Guided-Missile Destroyer". 2 November 2021.
  9. "Project-15B - Aspirant World". Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  10. "Naval Designers' Journey From Nilgiri to Project 15B". www.spsnavalforces.com.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 "BYJU's - Project 15B UPSC Notes". www.byjus.com.
  12. "Project 15B Visakhapatnam-class - Program". www.globalsecurity.org.
  13. "INS Vishakhapatnam — New era of force projection". www.spsnavalforces.com. 21 April 2015.
  14. "INS Visakhapatnam: India's Most Potent Destroyer". www.rediff.com. 23 November 2021.
  15. "5 Things That Make INS Vishakhapatnam Deadly Combination of Lethality And Stealth". www.india.com. 22 November 2021.
  16. "Project 15B Guided Missile Destroyers". www.naval-technology.com. 19 September 2016.
  17. "Indian Navy commissions stealth guided missile destroyer 'Vikramaditya'". www.domain-b.com. 21 November 2021.
  18. "From INS Vikrant to INS Imphal, how names of Indian Navy ships have evolved over the years". www.theprint.in. 25 April 2019.
  19. "In a First, Indian Navy Names Warship After Northeast City". www.thewire.in. 22 April 2019.
  20. "New Navy destroyer to be named after Goa port". www.deccanherald.com. 24 August 2016.
  21. "The BRAVO and the BRAHMOS". www.brahmand.com. 22 April 2015.
  22. "Bullseye: The 5 Most Deadly Anti-Ship Missiles of All Time". www.Bullseye: The 5 Most Deadly Anti-Ship Missiles of All Time. 13 March 2015.
  23. Snehesh, Alex Philip. "Navy to scrap plans to procure guns from US, considering 'Make in India' route now". ThePrint. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021.
  24. "Indian Navy receives first P15B guided-missile destroyer". Indian Navy receives first P15B guided-missile destroyer. 31 October 2021.
  25. "Indian Navy successfully tests Barak 8 interceptor missile: All you need to know". indiatoday.in. 30 December 2015.
  26. 26.0 26.1 "INS Vishakhapatnam | Vizag has Risen". 21 November 2020.
  27. "INS Visakhapatnam: Indian Navy's new stealth destroyer - INS Visakhapatnam".
  28. "ELM-2248 MF-STAR Multi-Function Digital AESA Radar". iai.co.il.
  29. 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 "Indian Navy Kolkata Class Destroyers". www.medium.com. 20 February 2019.
  30. "INS Visakhapatnam:- India's Most Powerful Stealth Guided Missile P15B Destroyer". 24 December 2016.
  31. "Vajiram IAS App for UPSC Aspirants". vajiramias.com.
  32. "PM Modi hands over advanced Electronic Warfare System 'Shakti'". www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 19 November 2021.
  33. "PM Modi to handover DRDO designed advanced electronic warfare suite to Navy today". ANI News.
  34. 34.0 34.1 "Project 15-B: Navy's destroyer project sets sail - Broadsword by Ajai Shukla - Strategy. Economics. Defence".
  35. "INS Visakhapatanam shows growing Indian ability to build warships economically". www.ajaishukla.com. 21 April 2015.
  36. "Navy's destroyer project sets sail". www.rediff.com. 31 March 2009.
  37. "Construction of Destroyer Surat and Frigate Udaygiri in advance stage, to be sea-launched next week". www.newindianexpress.com. 14 May 2022.
  38. "India's largest warship, INS Visakhapatnam, unveiled in Mazgaon". www.hindustantimes.com. 20 April 2015.
  39. "Delivery of navy's destroyers delayed". www.deccanherald.com. 19 December 2017.
  40. "1 dead in INS Visakhapatnam fire; inquiry on". www.economictimes.indiatimes.com. 22 June 2019.
  41. "No impact of fire on completion schedule of warship 'Visakhapatnam': Officials". www.economictimes.indiatimes.com. 22 June 2019.
  42. "Indian Navy Looks Ahead To Fleet Expansion With INS Visakhapatnam Delivery". www.overtdefense.com. 2 November 2021.
  43. "INS Visakhapatnam commissioned into Indian Navy in the presence of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  44. "Indian Navy launches Mormugao, 2nd warship of Visakhpatnam class, in Mumbai". www.livemint.com. 17 September 2016.
  45. "In pics: Mormugao, Indian Navy's guided missile destroyer, launched". 17 September 2016.
  46. "Mormugao, Indian Navy's Second Ship of the Project 15B, Sails for Maiden Sea Trials on Goa Liberation Day".
  47. "DELIVERY OF THE SECOND SHIP OF PROJECT 15B Y 12705 (MORMUGAO)". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  48. "Indian Navy launches new stealthy guided missile destroyer — INS Imphal". www.theweek.in. 20 April 2019.
  49. "Fast-Track Construction of Indian Navy's Stealth Destroyers". www.cscr.pk. 17 January 2022.
  50. "India Launches 4th P15B Destroyer And 2nd P17A Frigate". www.navalnews.com. 18 May 2022.
  51. 51.0 51.1 Shukla, Ajai (23 May 2022). "Rajnath Singh to launch two India-made warships in Mumbai on Tuesday". Business Standard India.
  52. "Indian Navy test-fires BrahMos supersonic missile onboard INS Visakhapatnam". Naval Technology. 12 January 2022.
  53. "BrahMos supersonic missile successfully test-fired from INS Visakhapatnam". www.livemint.com. 18 February 2022.
  54. "CHIEF OF NAVAL STAFF REVIEWS PREPARATIONS OF PRESIDENT'S FLEET REVIEW". pib.gov.in. 20 February 2022.
  55. "Keel Laid for P15 Bravo Ships". The Times of India. Mumbai. 25 October 2013.
  56. "Mazagon Dock Keel Laying Ceremony" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2014.
  57. "First Indian Navy Project 15B – Visakhapatnam-class Destroyer Launched". 21 April 2015.
  58. "Navy to commission 'vigilant', 'valiant' INS Visakhapatnam in Mumbai today". Hindustan Times. 21 November 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  59. "INS Visakhapatnam: Navy to commission missile destroyer ship today. 5 points". Mint. 21 November 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  60. "Mazagon Dock News" (PDF). mazagondock.gov.in. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2016.
  61. "Second warship of Visakhapatnam class launched in Mumbai". The Hindu Business Line. PTI. 17 September 2016.
  62. Shaikh, Ateeq (3 December 2022). "INS Mormugao: Indian Navy to commission the warship on Dec 18". Free Press Journal.
  63. "Second Project 15B Destroyer Delivered To The Indian Navy". www.navalnews.com. 24 November 2022.
  64. "Keel laid for the third ship of P15B class destroyers". The Free Press Journal. 26 May 2017. Archived from the original on 22 September 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  65. Sagar, Pradip (20 April 2019). "Indian Navy launches new stealthy guided missile destroyer — INS Imphal". The Week.
  66. Shukla, Ajai (17 May 2022). "Rajnath Singh to launch two India-made warships in Mumbai on Tuesday". Business Standard India.
  67. "Indian Navy launches guided missile destroyer INS Imphal". www.thehindu.com. 21 April 2019.
  68. @ANI (16 November 2021). "Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will formally Commission INS Vishakhapatnam on Nov 21 in Mumbai. The next warships of the class would be named after important cities in the country including Mormogao, Imphal, and Surat: Navy Vice Admiral SN Ghormade" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  69. Dhar, Aniruddha (17 May 2022). "Rajnath Singh launches India-made 'Surat' and 'Udaygiri' warships in Mumbai". Hindustan Times.
  70. "Watc - Surat & Udaygiri: India's new indigenous warships". www.thehindu.com. 23 May 2022.

External links[edit]

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