India launches stealth guided missile destroyer
MUMBAI: Indian Navy’s warship INS Kochi, the stealth guided missile destroyer, was commissioned on Wednesday by defence minister Manohar Parrikar at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai.
INS Kochi’s finish is as good as any foreign ship, Parrikar said at the commissioning, adding that there is renewed enthusiasm among defense production units, PSUs and private sectors.
Designed by the Navy’s in-house organisation, Directorate of Naval Design, and constructed by Mazagon Dock Ship builders Ltd in Mumbai, the ship is christened after the vibrant port city of Kochi.
INS Kochi is the second ship in the Indian Navy to have multi-function surveillance and threat alert radar to provide information about targets for a long-range surface-to-air missile system, according to a media release.
Enhanced stealth features have been achieved through shaping of hull and use of radar-transparent deck fittings. A bow mounted sonar dome, the second of its kind in an indigenous naval platform, has been introduced to enhance sonar acoustic performance, the spokesperson said.
INS Kochi is packed with an array of state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, with a significant indigenous component. The ship has many lethal weapons to her credit, including the successful fitment of vertically launched missile system for long distance engagement of shore and sea-based targets.
