Visakhapatnam-Class Destroyer Ships (Project-15B ) , India Most Advanced Destroyers
In Visakhapatnam-class stealth guided-missile destroyer project (P-15B) India is building four stealth guided-missile destroyers with the Dispalcement of 7400 tons for the Indian Navy. The Indian Navy plans to have all four destroyers in active service by 2024. These destroyer ships are being built by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) in Mumbai, India, and are based on the Kolkata-class destroyer design. However, the Visakhapatnam-class destroyers have a number of improvements over the Kolkata class, including:
Stealth design features to reduce radar and infrared signature, Improved automation and command and control systems, More powerful weapons and sensors.
The destroyers were designed by the Warship Design Bureau (formerly the Directorate of Naval Design). The design plans of the four vessels were completed by the WDB in mid-2013.
Total cost Visakhapatnam-class stealth guided-missile destroyer project is ₹35800 crore (equivalent to ₹420 billion or US$5.3 billion in 2023).
The Visakhapatnam-class destroyers are equipped with a variety of weapons and sensors, including:
- MF-STAR MF-STAR S-Band AESA radar with range of over 450 km, BEL L-Band air-search radar ith range of over 270 km, and Terma/Tata X-Band surface-search radar with rane of 20 km,
- 4 x 8-cell vertical launch systems (VLS) for Barak-8 surface-to-air missiles,
- 2 x 8-cell vertical launch systems (VLS) for BrahMos cruise missiles,
- 4 x AK-630M close-in weapon system,
- 2 x RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launcher,
- 4 x 533 mm (21 in)Torpedo tubes,
- 1 x OTO Melara 76 mm naval gun,
- 2 x OFT 12.7 mm M2 Stabilized Remote Controlled Gun,
- 4 x Kavach decoy launchers,
- 2 x Maareech torpedo-countermeasure systems,
- BEL HUMSA-NG active/passive sonar And BEL "Nagin" active towed-array sonar,
- DRDO "Shakti" Electronic warfare suite (equipped with ESM/ECM and "Radar Finger Printing System" (RFPS)) DRDO "Nayan" COMINT suite,
- Combat Management System,
These destroyer ships range are 8000 nautical miles (15000 km) with the speed of 18 knots (33 km/h) And Top Speed is 30 knots (56 km/h).
The first ship of the class, INS Visakhapatnam, was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 21 November 2021. The second ship of the class, INS Mormugao, was commissioned on 18 December 2022. The third ship of the class, INS Imphal , will commission on last of 2023. The fourth and last ships of this class, INS Surat may be commission on last of 2024 or till the mid of 2025.
INS Visakhapatnam class stealth guided-missile destroyers:
- Length: 163 meters,
- Beam: 17.4 meters,
- Endurance: 45 days,
- Crew: 300,
