New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi may have commissioned country's largest indigenously-built warship INS Kolkata, but the 6,800 ton warship is still not battle-ready as it is missing basic weaponry. The ship, which went into construction in 2003, is virtually defenseless against incoming missiles and submarines.
The Israel-built long range surface-to-air missile called the Barak NG, one of its primary weapons, is still being developed. The weapon detects an incoming missile 70-100 km away and intercepts it up to a range of 500 metres.
Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) had signed an MoU with Israel worth USD 350 million to co-develop the missile. But the boosters being built in India have failed forcing INS Kolkata to do with an inferior version of the Barack-1Missile.
The Barack-1Missile has a shorter range of 10 to 12 km.
Besides lacking basic weaponry, the warship also does not have the Sonar technology that detects objects on or under the surface of the water.
Ukraine had sent specialist engineers to oversee the construction of INS Kolkata. Supply of spare parts is also a major concern as India depends on Ukraine , a war torn country fighting for stability.
INS Kolkata is constructed by the Mazagon Dockyards Limited and has been designed by Navy's design bureau.
INS Kolkata will be a part of the Kolkata Class destroyers of the Indian Navy which will include follow-on ships by the name of INS Kochin and INS Chennai respectively.
The keel of the warship was laid down in September 2003 and the ship was launched in 2006.
