INS Visakhapatnam:- India’s Most Powerful Stealth Guided Missile P15B Destroyer
The Visakhapatnam class (Project 15B) is a class of stealth guided missile destroyers currently being built for the Indian Navy. Based on the Kolkata-class design, the Visakhapatnam class will be an extensively improved version.
Ordered in 2011, the first ship is expected to be completed in 2018.Project 15B destroyers will feature enhanced stealth characteristics as well as incorporate state of the art weaponry and sensors including the long range Barak 8 surface-to-air missile.
INS Visakhapatnam is the lead ship of the Visakhapatnam-class stealth guided-missile destroyers of the Indian Navy. She has been constructed at Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL), and has been launched on 20 April 2015. The ship is expected to get commissioned by 2018.
According to IHS Jane’s Defense Weekly:
“Vishakhapatnam‘s key differences from the Project 15A class include the relocation of its sonar to the bow from the hull; the design of its mast, which houses its main radar, has also been revised to further reduce its radar cross section. Other changes include reshaping of the hull to accentuate its stealth features and the addition of a rail-less helicopter traversing system.”
Indian naval officials claim that over 65 percent of the Vishakhapatnam is indigenously sourced, including 11 of its weapon and associated sensor systems, IHS Jane’s Defense Weekly reports.
INS Vishakhapatna
The keel of Visakhapatnam was laid down on 12 October 2013 and she was launched on 20 April 2015 at Mazagon Dock Limited of Mumbai
INS Visakhapatnam Destroyer Design
INS Visakhapatnam will be propelled by four gas turbines — to achieve a speed of over 30 knots – and will have a supersonic surface-to-surface missile system. Central to INS Visakhapatnam is its network-centric layout. The destroyer is equipped with a Ship Data Network, an Automatic Power Management System and a Combat Management System. That means, all information critical for the operation of the warship — during all manoeuvres — is available to key officers through a data information highway.
The Warship has the length of 163m and beam length of 17.4 m with the draft of 6.5m.It can cruise in the oceans wih the speed of 30 knots (56km/h).INS Visakhapatnam has estimated crew capacity of 300 (50 officers and 250 Sailors) and has range of 4000 nautical miles (7400 km) at 14knots (16 mph).
Sensors and Radars
INS Visakhapatnam is equipped with IAI EL/M-2248 MF-STAR ,a multifuntion active electronically scanned array naval radar system developed by IAI Elta for maritime installation on warships. It is capable of tracking both air and surface targets and providing fire control guidance.MF-STAR is an acronym of Multi-Function Surveillance, Track And Guidance Radar.
Apart form this An AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) a phased array radar is also inducted in this destroyers.For search operations Thales made LW-08 D-band air search radar is there.The destroyer is also equipped with BEL HUMSA-NG bow sonar and BEL Nagin active towed array sonar .
Electronic Warfare & Decoys
The electronics Warfare & decoys kit includes Deseaver MK II Counter-measures system and defensive aids suite made by Elbit system– an Israel-based international defence electronics company engaged in a wide range of programs throughout the world.It operates in in the areas of aerospace, land and naval systems, command, control, communications, computers, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance.
Aircrafts Carried
The aviation facilities include flight deck which can carry 2 x Westland Sea King or Hal Dhruv helicopters.It also includes Dual Enclosed hangar for a combination of 2 Westland Sea King, Chetak or HAL Dhruv helicopters.
INS Visakhapatnam Armaments
The destroyer is equipped with 4 × 8-cell VLS (Vertical Launching System) type Anti-air missiles and a total of 32 Barak 8 missiles (Range: 0.5 km (0.31 mi) to 100 km (62 mi).It also incorporated with 2 × 8-cell UVLM for 16 BrahMos anti-ship and land-attack missiles.
The principal armament of the Visakhapatnam-class will be Sixteen BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, which boast an operating range of 290km and were co-developed by India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and the Russian defense industry.
In addition, the ships will be equipped with the Barak-8/NG — an Indo-Israeli surface-to-air missile (
INS Visakhapatnam is armed with 1 × 127 mm gun Oto Melara SRGM and 4 × AK-630 CIWS (Close in Weapon System).The Anti-Submarine Wardare includes 4 x 533 mm Topedo tubes and 2 x RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers.
For antisubmarine warfare, the new stealth guided-missile destroyer features twin-tube launchers and RBU-6000 Smerch-2 rocket launchers. It can also carry two multiple-role helicopters (e.g., Sea King or HAL Dhruv helicopters). The turbines of the ship were constructed in Ukraine, whereas Russia was responsible for “propellers and shafting, assorted weaponry, sensors and radar.”
The Visakhapatnam’s crew of 325 officers and sailors, include an air complement that operates the ship’s two helicopters. The destroyer carries 1,000 tonnes of fuel, which allows it to patrol the oceans for 8,000 nautical miles (15,000 km; 9,200 miles) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph). For entering an area that has undergone a nuclear, chemical or biological (NBC) strike, the Visakhapatnam has a “total atmosphere control system”, which cleans the air through a filter system.
India’s new stealth guided-missile destroyer will be a multi-mission ship, capable of supporting expeditionary and surface strike groups. It will be a welcome new asset as India’s navy tries to deter Chinese “intrusions” into the Indian Ocean and particularly to boost India’s antisubmarine warfare capabilities.
INS VISAKHAPATNAM – 48 VLS
ANTI SHIP/LAND = 16 x BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missiles. Range of 450-600 kms.
ANTI AIR/MISSILE = 32 x BARAK 8 supersonic missiles. Range = 90 kms
ANTI SUB WARFARE = 2 x RBU 6000 launchers with 12 x ASW rockets ea. for a total of 24 ready to fire rockets. Range = 5 kms
ANTI SUB/SHIP = 4 x 21″ heavy torpedoes. Range = 60 kms.
1 x 127 mm dual purpose gun of Leonardo co.. Range = 70 – 100 kms (100 kms if using Vulcano ER round).
4 x 30 mm CIWS guns for short range Anti Air/Missile/Surface warfare
2 x Multi-role helicopters with hangar facility.
