New Delhi (Sputnik) – The Indian Navy will launch its most advanced guided missile destroyer on September 17 by floating its hull on water for the first time. This event is considered a milestone for any vessel. The destroyer, constructed by Mazgaon Dock Limited (MDL) will be named INS Mormugao on commissioning.
According to sources in the Indian Navy, the weapon systems to be integrated in the ship include Israeli Barak surface-to-air missiles and the BrahMos missiles. With a displacement of 6,670 tonnes and 149 meters long, the new destroyer will have a maximum speed of 30 knots and an endurance of 4,000 nautical miles. However, it will not have a towed array sonar — an essential sensor to detect submarines – for now, according to sources.
Project-15B, sanctioned by the Indian government in 2011, involves the construction of four destroyers. The idea is to slowly make more and more components for the Indian Navy at home. The INS Mormugao is likely to be inducted into service by 2020. The first ship under P-15B INS Visakhapatnam would be commissioned in 2018.
“In the P-15B ships, the extent of indigenization has gone up to 68% from P-15 (Delhi class) ships, where the indigenization was about 42%,” said Vice Admiral G S Pabby, controller, warship production and acquisition at the naval headquarters.
