India’s largest locally-made warship, INS Chennai, was commissioned last month into the Indian Navy’s combat fleet. Constructed at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd in Mumbai, her completion marks the end of building guided missile destroyers of the Kolkata class.
Most of the ship, almost 60%, was built at Mazagon Dock. Weapons and sensors were purchased from Israel and Russia.
Defensively, INS Chennai is equipped with the ‘Kavachi’ decoy system that can avert a missile attack. A ‘Mareech’ torpedo decoy system counters torpedo attacks. Both systems were designed and made in-country. For protection from torpedo attacks the destroyer has formidable defensive and offensive weapons. She can carry a maximum of two multi-role helicopters, said Admiral Girish Luthra who is chief of Western Naval Command.
She is armed with Barak-8 Long Range Surface-to-Air missiles and supersonic surface-to-surface missiles. Below the waterline are the hull-mounted sonar, HUMSA-N, rocket launchers, heavy-duty torpedo tubes, and towed-array sonar.
At 164 meters in length, she displaces 7,500 tons, and sails at a maximum speed over 30 knots (55 km) per hour powered by four reversible turbines that compose the propulsion system.
The Navy plans by 2027 to become a 200-warship force with approximately 600 aircraft and helicopters, The Times of India reported.
INS Chennai will undergo more sea trials to test the electronic systems prior to assignment to the Mumbai-based Western Fleet.