Mumbai: INS Chennai, a P 15A guided missile destroyer, was commissioned into the Indian Navy by the Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar at a ceremony held at the naval dockyard, Mumbai. This is the third and the last of the Kolkata-class destroyers, built at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd in Mumbai.
The ship measures 163 m in length, 17.4 m 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. It is propelled by 4 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.
INS Chennai is fitted with supersonic surface-to-surface BrahMos missiles and Barak-8 long range surface-to-air missiles. Its 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.
The ship will be placed under the operational and administrative control of the western naval command.
Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of the Naval Staff, was also present during the occasion.
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