Defence minister Rajnath Singh commissions INS Visakhapatnam into Indian Navy

Highlights

Rajnath Singh commissions INS Visakhapatnam into Indian Navy
'Visakhapatnam' is equipped with lethal weapons and sensors and advanced electronic warfare
It is the first stealth guided-missile destroyer of the Rs 35,000 crore Project 15B

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday commissioned the stealth guided-missile destroyer INS Visakhapatnam into the Indian Navy at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai. INS Visakhapatnam is the first stealth-guided missile destroyer ship of Project 15B.

The Defence Minister said that Indo-Pacific being a key route is important for the world economy and it is the primary objective of the Indian Navy to keep it secure.

"Indo-Pacific is a key route and it is important for the world economy. It is the primary objective of the Indian Navy to keep the route secure," Singh said while speaking at the commissioning ceremony of the INS Visakhapatnam in Mumbai.

"The entire world is increasing its Military power in coming years and expenditure on defence budget will increase. We have moved towards the development of an indigenous shipbuilding hub," said Singh.

"Out of 41 ships ordered by Indian Navy 38 ships have been developed in India. It is the best example of indigenisation," he added.

The Defence Minister was the guest of honour, while Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh is the Chief Guest for the event.

'Visakhapatnam' is equipped with lethal weapons and sensors, including supersonic surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, medium and short-range guns, anti-submarine rockets and advanced electronic warfare and communication suits.

The ship has the capability of embarking two integrated helicopters and boasts of a very high level of automation with sophisticated digital networks, combat management systems and integrated platform management systems, they said.

It is the first stealth guided-missile destroyer of the Rs 35,000 crore Project 15B under which a total of four warships are being built. The next ship is set to be commissioned in 2023 while the other two are planned to be inducted by 2025.

The warship has been designed by the Indian Navy's in-house organisation, the Directorate of Naval Design, and constructed by Mazagon Dock Limited. The majestic ship measures 163 metres in length, 17 metres in breadth with a displacement of 7,400 tonnes.

"It can rightfully be regarded as one of the most potent warships to have been constructed in India," said an official.

The ship, propelled by four powerful gas turbines, is capable of achieving speeds in excess of 30 knots.

It is fitted with a modern surveillance radar that provides target data to the gunnery weapon systems of the ship, the official said.

The ship's anti-submarine warfare capabilities are provided by the indigenously developed rocket launchers, torpedo launchers and anti-submarine warfare helicopters.

The ship is also equipped to fight under nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) warfare conditions, the official said.

"The commissioning of Visakhapatnam will reaffirm India's presence amongst an elite group of nations with capability to design and build advanced warships," Vice Admiral Satish Namdeo Ghormade, the Vice Chief of Naval Staff, said on Tuesday.