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The Kolkata class destroyer is armed with cruise missiles and packs a formidable punch
Entered service 2014
Crew 390 men
Sea endurance ?
Dimensions and displacement
Length 163 m
Beam 17.4 m
Draught 6.5 m
Displacement, standard ?
Displacement, full load 7 400 t
Propulsion and speed
Speed more than 30 knots
Range 15 000 km at 18 knots
Propulsion Combined gas and gas propulsion system
Airwing
Helicopters 2 x Sea King or Dhruv
Armament
Artillery 1 x 76-mm gun, 4 x AK-630 close-in weapon systems
Missiles 32 x Barak-8 air defense missiles, 16 x Brahmos anti-ship and land-attack missiles
Torpedoes 4 x 533-mm torpedo tubes.
Other 2 x RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers
The Kolkata class of stealthy guided missile destroyers is a successor to the Delhi class. It is in service with the Indian Navy. These state-of-the-art vessels are steps towards India’s quest for a Blue-water navy. The Kolkata class also known as Project 15A comprises of 3 ships namely – INS Kolkata, INS Kochi, INS Chennai. All 3 named on the coastal cities of India. The INS Chennai is undergoing sea trials while the former 2 were commissioned with the Indian Navy in 2014 and 2015, respectively.
The Project 15A was first launched in 1986, following the approval of the cabinet committee as a follow-on class to Delhi class. By the year 2000, the Kolkata class was redesigned by Directorate of Naval Design considering the modern stealth attributes. The contract for the detailed design and construction was awarded to Mazagon Docks Limited.
The first vessel of the Kolkata Class was delayed by 4 years (to 2014) due to technical faults found out during the sea trials. However, the faults were rectified and INS Kolkata was dedicated to the nation By Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 16 Aug 2014. Follow on, with the INS Kochi getting commissioned in September 2015.
It is driven by 2 Bergen KVM diesel engines along with combined gas and gas system Twin Zorya M36E gas turbine plants with 4 × DT-59 reversible gas turbines and 2 × RG-54 gearboxes which is capable of taking the vessel to the speed of 30 knots.
The vessels have an estimated crew of 400 and can house two helicopters either HAL Dhruv orWestland Sea King. The weapon systems include Brahmos which are nuclear capable supersonic missile with the speed of 2.8 Mach and Indo-Israel jointly developed Barak-8 air defense missiles. In total, it has 32 Barak-8 missiles and 16 Bramhos missiles in two 8-cell vertical tubes which makes the vessel a real threat. Apart from this, it has anti-submarine rocket launchers and torpedoes, Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS), machine guns and a 76 mm Oto Melara artillery gun.
It also has various electronic counter measures such as Deseaver MK II counter-measures systems and defensive aids suite and indigenous Kavach decoys. Uses Thales Air Search Radar to keep an eye on the airspace along with IAI EL/M-2248 MF-STAR S-band AESA multi-function radar and indigenously developed HUMSA-NG Bow Sonar and Nagin Towed Array Sonar. The software package includes BEL Electronic Modular Command & Control Applications (EMCCA Mk4)/CMS15A combat management system.
Construction of the Kolkata class ships faced constant cost overruns. Currently the warship costs around US $950 Million a piece to the government with the total project after escalations is about US $2.8 Billion.
Name Laid down Launched Commissioned Status
INS Kolkata (D63) 2003 2006 2014
active, in service
INS Kochi (D64) 2005 2009 2015
active, in service
INS Chennai (D65) 2006 2010 Expected in 2016
sea trials
Kolkata Class
Guided Missile Destroyer
Kolkata Class
Guided Missile Destroyer
Kolkata Class
Guided Missile Destroyer
Kolkata Class
Guided Missile Destroyer
Kolkata Class
Guided Missile Destroyer
Kolkata Class
Guided Missile Destroyer
Kolkata Class
Guided Missile Destroyer
Kolkata Class Guided-Missile Destroyer | Military-Today.com