NEW DELHI: Adding a milestone in India’s journey towards achieving self reliance in battle readiness, INS Chennai, a guided missile destroyer was commissioned into Indian naval fleet on Monday.
INS Chennai, is the third and the last of three Kolkatta class destroyers , indigenously designed and developed by navy’s in-house Directorate of Naval Design in collaboration with Mumbai based PSU Mazagaon Dock Limited.
According to Navy, the warship measures 163m in length, 17.4m in breadth with a displacement of 7500 tonnes and can rightfully be regarded as one of the most potent warships to have been constructed in India.
“The ship represents a significant ‘coming of age’ of our warship building capability and defence preparedness,’ Defence minister Manohar Parrikar said while addressing the gathering by adding that Navy’s growth and development must keep pace with the nation’s growth and maritime security needs. Minister further said that the Indian Navy, in addition to providing overall maritime security to our country, also plays a crucial role as the ‘net security provider’ in our adjoining seas.
On the occasion, Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba stated that indigenisation of platforms, weapons, sensors and equipment with participation of public as well as private sectors, will continue to remain a focus area of the Indian Navy, in line with the ‘Make in India’ policy enunciated by the Prime Minister.
"Roadmap for the Navy’s expansion and growth would continue to remain firmly anchored on Self-reliance and Indigenisation," admiral Lanba added.
Captain CR Praveen Nair, the Commanding Officer read out the Commissioning Warrant, which was followed by the hoisting of ‘Colours’ (ceremony of hoisting the National Flag and Naval Ensign) marking the commencement of the ship’s service as a warship of the Navy.
INS Chennai was placed under the operational and administrative control of the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command. In due course, the ship will be assigned to the Western Fleet and would be base-ported at Mumbai.
The warship is propelled by four powerful Gas Turbines, in a Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) configuration, capable of achieving speeds in excess of 30 knots.
“The ship has enhanced stealth features resulting in a reduced Radar Cross Section (RCS) achieved through efficient shaping of hull, full beam superstructure design, plated masts and use of radar transparent materials on exposed decks,” Navy spokesperson Captain DK Sharma said.
INS Chennai is packed with contemporary and sophisticated ‘state of the art’ weapons and sensors such as Surface to Surface Missile and Surface to Air Missiles, Navy claims.
The ship is fitted with a modern Surveillance Radar which provides target data to the gunnery weapon systems of the ship and ship’s Anti Submarine Warfare capabilities are provided by the indigenously developed Rocket Launchers and Torpedo Launchers. The ship is equipped to fight under Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) warfare conditions.
“Some of the major indigenised equipment / system onboard INS Chennai include Combat Management System, Rocket Launcher, Torpedo Tube Launcher, Automated Power Management System, Foldable Hangar Doors, Helo Traversing system, Auxiliary Control System and the Bow mounted SONAR,” navy official said.
Named after the iconic port city of Chennai, the ship has a complement of about 45 officers and 395 personnel.