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Kolkata-class destroyer

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Class overview
Name: Kolkata class
Builders: Mazagon Dock Limited
Operators:  Indian Navy
Preceded by: Delhi class
Succeeded by: Visakhapatnam class
Cost:
  • INR11662 (Template:Indian rupee conversion/inflation) for three ships (FY 2014)
  • INR3887 (Template:Indian rupee conversion/inflation) per ship (FY 2014)
Built: 2003–2015
In commission: 2014–present
Planned: 3
Completed: 3
Active: 3
General characteristics
Type: Guided-missile destroyer
Displacement: 7,400 t (7,300 long tons; 8,200 short tons) full load[1][2][3]
Length: 163 m (534 ft 9 in)
Beam: 17.4 m (57 ft 1 in)
Draught: 6.5 m (21 ft 4 in)
Propulsion:
Speed: 30 knots (56 km/h)
Range: 6,000 nmi (11,000 km) at 18 kn (33 km/h)
Complement: 300 (50 officers + 250 sailors)
Sensors and
processing systems:
  • Radar :-
  • IAI EL/M-2248 MF-STAR S-band AESA multi-function radar[6]
  • Thales LW-08 D-band air search radar[7]
  • Indra - TASL Lanza-N L-band air surveillance radar (INS Kolkata)
  • Garpun Bal (3TS-25E) radar [8]
  • Sonar :-
  • BEL HUMSA-NG bow sonar
  • BEL Nagin active towed array sonar[9]
  • Combat Suite :-
  • BEL EMCCA Mk4 combat management system[6]
Electronic warfare
& decoys:
  • BEL Ellora electronic support measures[10]
  • Decoys :-
  • 4 × Kavach decoy launchers
  • 2 × Maareech torpedo-countermeasure systems[10]
    • Armament:
  • Anti-air warfare :-
  • 4 × 8-cell VLS, for a total of 32 Barak 8 surface-to-air missiles
  • Anti-surface warfare :-
  • 2 × 8-cell VLS, for 16 BrahMos anti-ship missiles
  • Anti-submarine warfare :-
  • 4 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes
  • 2 × RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers
  • Guns :-
  • 1 × OTO Melara 76 mm naval gun
  • 4 x AK-630 CIWS
    • Aircraft carried: 2 × Sea King or HAL Dhruv helicopters
    Aviation facilities: Dual Enclosed hangar

    The Kolkata-class destroyers, also known Project 15A or Project 15 Alpha, are a class of stealth guided-missile destroyers constructed for the Indian Navy. The class comprises three ships – Kolkata, Kochi and Chennai, all of which were built by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) in India, and are the largest destroyers to be operated by the Indian Navy. Due to delays in construction and sea trials, the initial commissioning date of the first ship of the class was pushed back from 2010 to 2014.[11][12]

    The destroyers are a follow-on of the Project 15 Delhi-class destroyers, but are considerably more capable due to major improvements in the design, the addition of substantial land-attack capabilities, the fitting-out of modern sensors and weapons systems, and the expanded use of net-centric capability such as Cooperative Engagement Capability.[13][14][15][16][17]

    Design[]

    The Kolkata class share similar dimensions to the previous Delhi class, however they have 2,363 modifications which include major upgrades in weaponry, sensors and helicopter systems.[18] With a standard displacement of 6,800 t (6,700 long tons; 7,500 short tons) and a full-load displacement of 7,400 t (7,300 long tons; 8,200 short tons), they are the largest destroyers ever operated by the Indian Navy.[2] Some media reports have even given a full-load displacement of 7,500 t (7,400 long tons; 8,300 short tons).[1] These are the first stealth destroyers built by India and marked a significant development in India's shipbuilding technology. The ships incorporate modern weapons and sensors, and have an advanced information warfare suite, an auxiliary control system with a sophisticated power distribution architecture, and modular crew quarters.[19]

    The class have a length of 163 m (534 ft 9 in), a beam of 17.4 m (57 ft 1 in) and a draught of 6.5 m (21 ft 4 in). The ship's power and propulsion features a combined gas and gas system utilizing four DT-59 reversible gas turbines. This configuration allows the ship to reach speeds in excess of 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph).[20] Aviation facilities include a large flight deck, which was re-designed to handle larger helicopters than the Delhi class, and an enclosed hangar for up to two maritime helicopters.[18]

    The AESA is the primary radar of the Kolkata class

    The EL/M-2248 MF-STAR AESA is the primary radar of the Kolkata class

    The primary radar sensor of the class is the EL/M-2248 MF-STAR multi-mission AESA.[6] It is also equipped with Thales LW-08 long range volume search radar. Thales LW-08 will later be replaced by Indra - TASL Lanza-N L-band air surveillance radar.[21]

    The ship's main air-defence armament is composed of four eight-cell vertical launching systems (VLS) allowing for up to thirty-two Barak 8 / MRSAM air defence missiles.[22]

    The class is designed for network-centric warfare such as Cooperative Engagement Capability, where they operate wide-area air defense, distributing assets and control over different platforms and locations, and harnessing multiple sensors & effectors into a single air defense system. In May 2019, 2 ships of the class conducted the maiden cooperative engagement firing of the Barak 8 / MRSAM by using the Joint Taskforce Coordination (JTC) mode to intercept several simultaneous aerial targets involving two complex scenarios at extended ranges. With it, the Indian Navy became the second naval service in the world after the United States, and the first in Asia to have developed and deployed it. The capability is to be rolled out on all future major warships of the Indian Navy.[14]

    Four AK-630 CIWSs are fitted for close-in defence.[citation needed]

    The supersonic BrahMos anti-ship and land-attack missiles are the primary offensive armament of the Kolkata class.[23] The BrahMos missiles are fitted into a 16-cell Universal Vertical Launcher Module (UVLM) allowing one missile per launch silo, and all 16 missiles can be fired in salvo.[24]

    The class carries a 76 mm (3 in) naval gun located forward of the bridge, which provides limited anti-shipping capability and anti-air capability in addition to its naval gun fire-support role for land-based operations.[citation needed]

    A bow-mounted sonar HUMSA-NG (hull-mounted sonar array – new generation) is carried for sub-surface surveillance.[citation needed]

    For anti-submarine warfare, the Kolkata class are equipped with a torpedo launching system via four torpedo tubes and two RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers.[25]

    BEL's Electronic Modular Command & Control Applications (EMCCA) Mk4 provides combat management.[6]

    Forty lakh (four million) lines of codes have been written to develop the advanced combat management system onboard INS Kochi. The system is designed so that all the data about the surrounding threat comes in one place, along with analysis of the kind of threat. The system also advises the commanding officer about the kind of weaponry he should use to tackle the threat in real time.[26] The ship is equipped with sophisticated digital networks, such as Asynchronous Transfer Mode based Integrated Ship Data Network (AISDN), Combat Management System (CMS), Automatic Power Management System (APMS) and Auxiliary Control System (ACS). The AISDN is the information highway on which data from all the sensors and weapon ride. The CMS is used to integrate information from other platforms using an indigenous data-link system to provide Maritime Domain Awareness. The intricate power supply management is done using APMS, and remote control and monitoring of machinery is achieved through the ACS.[27]

    Development[]

    See also: Delhi-class destroyer

    In 1986, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) approved a follow-on class of the earlier Project 15 Delhi-class destroyers. The aim was that the follow-on class would incorporate a higher level of air-defence, land attack, anti-submarine, and anti-ship capabilities than the preceding class. However, the Indian Navy did not initially take up the option.[28] By the year 2000, the Indian Navy had redesigned the follow-on Kolkata class to incorporate even higher levels of technology (including modern stealth characteristics) and in May of that year, approval for the construction was given. The concept and function for Project 15A was framed by the navy's Directorate of Naval Design, while the detailed design was developed by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL).[29][30][31]

    Initially in 2008, the total program cost with long-term spare parts was expected to cost INR3800 (US$610 million),[29] but the construction costs escalated about 225%, and by 2011, cost of the program became INR11662 (US$1.9 billion), with each ship costing INR3900 (US$620 million).[32] The Defense Minister A. K. Antony cited the causes being the delay in supply of warship-grade steel by Russia, increase in costs of Russian specialists due to inflation during the build period, wage revision due from October 2003 and delay in finalisation of cost of weapons and sensors.[33][34] A Comptroller and Auditor General of India report published in 2010 blamed the Navy for delays, criticising the late decisions for replacement of surface to air missile system with Barak, change of gun mount, inclusion of a sonar dome and modification of helicopter hangar to accommodate HAL Dhruv.[18][35]

    Construction[]

    Construction of three Kolkata-class ships was sanctioned by the Government of India in May 2000, and steel for the lead ship was cut in March 2003. Construction began in September 2003 at Mazagon Docks, Mumbai, with an initial expectation that the first of the class would be handed over to the navy by 2010. However, since then the Kolkata class has suffered consecutive delays, slow construction procedures, and technical problems, which saw the first ship of the class enter service during mid-2014. The delays in the construction programme have been attributed to persistent design changes made by the Indian Navy to incorporate new weapons systems and sensors, failure by a Ukrainian shipyard to deliver the ship's propellers and shafts, and the contract later being awarded to a Russian firm,[36] and finally the delay in the delivery of the Barak 8 anti-air missiles.[37]

    The Kolkata class are the largest destroyers ever to be constructed at Mazagon Docks.[38] Technical problems were found during the sea trials of the lead ship Kolkata, which delayed the project by six months to early 2014.[11]

    Ships of the class[]

    Name Pennant Yard No. Builder Laid Down Launched Commissioned Status
    Kolkata D63 701[39] Mazagon Dock Limited 26 September 2003[40] 30 March 2006[41][42] 16 August 2014[43] Active
    Kochi D64 702[39] 25 October 2005[44] 18 September 2009[44] 30 September 2015[45]
    Chennai D65 703[46] 21 February 2006[47] 1 April 2010[38] 21 November 2016[12]

    Gallery[]

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    See also[]

    References[]

    1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Navy gets its largest destroyer". The Hindu. 13 July 2014. http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/navy-gets-its-largest-destroyer/article6205050.ece. 
    2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "INS Kolkata". Indian Navy. http://www.indiannavy.nic.in/naval-fleet/ins-kolkata. 
    3. ↑ "INS Kolkata: embarquement immédiat". l'express. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5MkSmXxRXU. Template:Cbignore
    4. ↑ Siddiqui, Huma (5 October 2015). "INS Kochi turbocharged". The Financial Express. http://www.financialexpress.com/industry/technology/ins-kochi-turbocharged/145742/. 
    5. ↑ Bedi, Rahul (18 August 2014). "India commissions first-of-class destroyer Kolkata". IHS Jane's Navy International. http://www.janes.com/article/42106/india-commissions-first-of-class-destroyer-kolkata. 
    6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "Country's most potent indigenous warship joins service this month". SP's Naval Forces. 8 June 2014. http://spsnavalforces.com/exclusive/?id=18&h=Country-s-most-potent-indigenous-warship-joins-service-this-month. 
    7. ↑ "Bharat Electronics Ltd. awards LW08 contract to Thales". Thalesgroup.com. 2 July 2008. http://www.thalesgroup.com/Press_Releases/naval_Press_Release_Bharat_Electronics_awards_LW08/. 
    8. ↑ "Virtual tour of INS Kolkata (Hindi)". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvWia6Jpwek&t=153s&ab_channel=IndianNavy. 
    9. ↑ "Kolkata Class Destroyer INS Chennai will be commissioned on Monday" (in en). https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/kolkata-class-destroyer-ins-chennai-manohar-parikkar-352990-2016-11-20. 
    10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Som, Vishnu (29 September 2015). "Inside India's New and Deadliest Warship". https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/inside-indias-new-and-deadliest-warship-1224090. 
    11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Navy's ongoing hunt for heavy torpedoes leads to delay in modernisation process". 10 June 2013. https://www.indiatoday.in/india/north/story/indian-navy-hits-modernisation-crisis-no-weapons-tarpedoes-166179-2013-06-10. 
    12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Guided Missile Destroyer INS Chennai Joins the Indian Navy". Indian Navy. 21 November 2016. https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/guided-missile-destroyer-ins-chennai-joins-indian-navy. 
    13. ↑ Toshi Yoshihara; James Holmes (2012). James R. Holmes. ed. Strategy in the second nuclear age : power, ambition, and the ultimate weapon. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press. p. 143. ISBN 978-1589019287. https://books.google.com/books?id=hpFJflNJJmsC&q=kolkata+class+destroyer&pg=PA143. 
    14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Press Information Bureau". http://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1572157&RegID=3&LID=1. 
    15. ↑ "Indian Navy Demonstrates 'MRSAM 'Cooperative Engagement' Capability". 17 May 2019. https://defense-update.com/20190517_indian-navy-demonstrates-mrsam-cooperative-engagement-capability.html. 
    16. ↑ "Indian Navy completes MRSAM first cooperative engagement firing test – Naval News". 20 May 2019. https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2019/05/indian-navy-completes-mrsam-first-cooperative-engagement-firing-test/. 
    17. ↑ "Janes | Latest defence and security news". https://www.janes.com/article/88673/indian-navy-demonstrates-co-operative-engagement-firing-capability. 
    18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Shukla, Ajai (20 August 2012). "Dangerous consequences of warships built in India". Rediff News. http://www.rediff.com/news/report/dangerous-consequences-of-warships-built-in-india/20120820.htm. 
    19. ↑ "INS Chennai adds to Naval might". 1 April 2010. http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/ins-chennai-adds-to-naval-might_615908.html. 
    20. ↑ "Project 15-A destroyer, INS Kochi To be launched on 18 Sep 2009". PIB. http://www.pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=52673. 
    21. ↑ Philip, Snehesh Alex (2025-09-11). "Navy gets first Tata-made Spanish 3D surveillance radar for its warships, 19 more to come" (in en-US). https://theprint.in/defence/navy-gets-first-tata-made-spanish-3d-surveillance-radar-for-its-warships-19-more-to-come/2741114/. 
    22. ↑ Som, Vishnu (16 August 2014). "On INS Kolkata, PM is Only Partially Correct". http://www.ndtv.com/opinion/on-ins-kolkata-pm-is-only-partially-correct-654566. "At the moment, she is designed to carry only 32 Barak surface-to-air missiles..." 
    23. ↑ "First test of BrahMos land-attack variant from the sea". 5 March 2008. http://brahmos.com/newscenter.php?newsid=60#. 
    24. ↑ "BrahMos missile test-fired from warship INS Kolkata". The Times of India. 9 June 2014. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/BrahMos-missile-test-fired-from-warship-INS-Kolkata/articleshow/36295940.cms. 
    25. ↑ "Project 15-A Improved Delhi / VIshakhapattanam / DDGHM Kolkata". Global Security. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/d-project-15a.htm. 
    26. ↑ "INS Kochi is proof India good at integrating different systems on one platform". sunday guardian. http://www.sundayguardianlive.com/news/1201-%E2%80%98ins-kochi-proof-india-good-integrating-different-systems-one-platform%E2%80%99. 
    27. ↑ "INS Kochi commissioned at Mumbai | Indian Navy". http://indiannavy.nic.in/content/ins-kochi-commissioned-mumbai. 
    28. ↑ Kolkata-class destroyer Archived 4 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine. GlobalSecurity.org
    29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Shukla, Ajai (15 April 2008). "World-class warships at Indian prices". Business Standard. http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/world-class-warships-at-indian-prices-108041501011_1.html. 
    30. ↑ Bhatt, Arunkumar (27 September 2003). "Mazagon Dock lays keel of destroyer". The Hindu. http://www.thehindu.com/2003/09/27/stories/2003092702901200.htm. 
    31. ↑ "Mazagon Dock Annual Report". Mdlindia.com. http://www.mdlindia.com/annual_report/Directors%20Report%202005-06_231106.pdf. 
    32. ↑ Ajai Shukla (2 May 2014). "INS Kolkata, navy's most powerful warship, to be delivered next month". Business-standard. http://ajaishukla.blogspot.in/2014/05/ins-kolkata-navys-most-powerful-warship.html. 
    33. ↑ "Indian warships' costs escalate over 225%". 5 September 2011. http://www.stratpost.com/indian-warships-costs-escalate-over-225. 
    34. ↑ "Delay in Indigenous Warship Projects of Navy". 3 August 2011. http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=73820. 
    35. ↑ "Report No. 32 of 2010 – Performance Audit of Indigenous Construction of Indian Naval Warships". Comptroller and Auditor General of India. p. 41. http://cag.gov.in/sites/default/files/audit_report_files/Union_Performance_Defence_Indigenous_Construction_Naval_Warships_32_2010.pdf. 
    36. ↑ Shukla, Ajai (1 April 2009). "Russia steps in to bail out sinking Project 15-A". Business Standard. http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/russia-steps-in-to-bail-out-sinking-project-15-a/353555/. 
    37. ↑ Shukla, Ajai (20 August 2012). "Navy's wavering delaying warships by years". Business Standard. http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/navy-s-wavering-delaying-warships-by-years-112082002026_1.html. 
    38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 "India's 3rd indigenous naval destroyer launched". CNN-News18. 1 April 2010. http://www.news18.com/news/india/antony-navy-destroyer-antony-on-navy-335869.html. 
    39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 "Annual Report 2014–2015". Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited. http://www.mazagondock.gov.in/newsite2010/pdf_doc/Annual_Reports/Annual_Report_English_2014-2015.pdf. 
    40. ↑ Bhatt, Arunkumar (27 September 2003). "Mazagon Dock lays keel of destroyer". The Hindu. http://www.thehindu.com/2003/09/27/stories/2003092702901200.htm. 
    41. ↑ Rasquinha, Reagan Gavin (1 April 2006). "Queen of the high seas". The Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/bombay-times/Queen-of-the-high-seas/articleshow/1473297.cms. 
    42. ↑ Bhatt, Arunkumar (1 April 2006). "A lethal combination of stealth and strength". The Hindu. http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/a-lethal-combination-of-stealth-and-strength/article18429490.ece. 
    43. ↑ Pandit, Rajat (16 August 2014). "PM Modi inducts India's largest indigenously built warship INS Kolkata". The Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/PM-Modi-inducts-Indias-largest-indigenously-built-warship-INS-Kolkata/articleshow/40313665.cms. 
    44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 Ved, Mahendra (8 October 2015). "Make in India at Indian Navy" (in en). The Hans India. http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/2015-10-08/Make-in-India-at-Indian-Navy-179739. 
    45. ↑ "INS Kochi, largest India-made warship, commissioned". The Times of India. 30 September 2015. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/INS-Kochi-largest-India-made-warship-commissioned/articleshow/49162943.cms. 
    46. ↑ "Annual Report 2016–2017". Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited. p. 14. https://mazagondock.in/writereaddata/pdf_doc/Annual_Reports/Annual_Report_English_2016-2017.pdf. 
    47. ↑ Saunders, Stephen, ed (2016). "India". Jane's Fighting Ships 2016–2017 (119th ed.). Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group. p. 346. ISBN 978-0710631855. 

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