Indian Navy has commissioned the INS Visakhapatnam P15B stealth guided missile destroyer.

According to information released by the Indian Ministry of Defense on November 21, 2021, INS Visakhapatnam, a P15B stealth guided missile destroyer, was commissioned into the Indian Navy in the presence of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai on November 21, 2021.
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Indian Navy has commissioned the INS Visakhapatnam destroyer on November 21, 2021. (Picture source Indian Navy)

The event marks the formal induction of the first of the four Visakhapatnam-class destroyers, indigenously designed by the Indian Navy’s in-house organization Directorate of Naval Design and constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai.

Citing the "FirstPost" website, the INS Visakhapatnam ship has been constructed using indigenous steel DMR 249A and is amongst the largest destroyers constructed in India with an overall length of 163m and displacement of over 7,400 tons. Designed by the Indian Navy’s “in-house design organization", the Directorate of Naval Design, and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd in Mumbai, it is an inheritor to Project 15 and Project 15A, which gave the Navy, respectively, the advanced Delhi and Kolkata class of destroyers.

Almost 75 percent of the INS Visakhapatnam ship equipment are indigenously made, including many major indigenous weapons such as Indigenous Medium Range Surface to Air Missile Systems by BEL, Bengaluru, Surface to Surface Missiles by Brahmos Aerospace, Torpedo Tubes and Launchers by L&T and Gun Mount by BHEL. Other indigenized equipment onboard INS Visakhapatnam also include Combat Management System, Rocket Launcher, Integrated Platform Management System, Automated Power Management System, Foldable Hangar Doors, Helo Traversing system, Close-in Weapon System and the Bow mounted SONAR.

The Visakhapatnam-class also named P-15 Bravo-class, or P-15B is a class of guided-missile destroyers currently being built for the Indian Navy. The P-15B destroyer is a modified version of the earlier Kolkata-class destroyers (P-15A). The ship has enhanced stealth features resulting in a reduced Radar Cross Section (RCS) achieved through efficient shaping of hull, full beam superstructure design, plated masts, and use of radar transparent materials on exposed decks.

The INS Visakhapatnam is equipped with sophisticated state-of-the-art weapons and sensors such as Surface-to-Surface missiles and Surface-to-Air missiles. It is fitted with modern surveillance radar which provides target data to the gunnery weapon systems of the ship. The anti-submarine warfare capabilities are provided by the indigenously developed rocket launchers, torpedo launchers, and ASW helicopters. The ship is equipped to fight under Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) warfare conditions.

The INS Visakhapatnam has a length of 163 m, a beam of 17.4 m, a draft of 6.5 m, and a displacement of 7,400 tones and can rightfully be regarded as one of the most potent warships to have been constructed in India.

The INS Visakhapatnam is propelled by four powerful Gas Turbines, in a Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) configuration including two Zorya M36E gas turbines and two Bergen/GRSE KVM-diesel engines, capable of achieving speeds in excess of 30 knots (56 km/h). She has a maximum cruising range of 4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km) at a speed of 18 knots (33 km/h).