Kolkata class destroyer

Class overview
Name:	Kolkata class
Builders:	Mazagon Dock Limited
Operators:	Indian Navy
Preceded by:	Delhi class
Succeeded by:	Project 15B
Cost:	Program Cost: 8,459 crore (US$1.72 billion) Unit Cost: 2,820 crore (US$571.9 million)
Building:	3
Planned:	7
General characteristics
Type:	Guided missile destroyer
Displacement:	Full load: 6,800 tonnes (6,700 long tons)
Length:	163 m (535 ft)
Beam:	17.4 m (57 ft)
Propulsion:	COGAG: Zorya 2× M36E gas turbine plants with 4× DT-59 reversible gas turbines 2× RG-54 gearboxes 2× Bergen/GRSE KVM-diesel engines, 9,900 hp (7,400 kW) each 4× 1mWe Wartsila WCM-1000 generator sets driving Cummins KTA50G3 engines and Kirloskar 1MV AC generators
Speed:	In excess of 30 knots (56 km/h)
Sensors and processing systems:	IAI EL/M-2248 MF-STAR Multi-mission radar (Active Electronically Scanned Array) IAI EL/M-2238 L-band STAR surveillance radar BEL HUMSA-NG sonar BEL RAWL-02 /Thales LW-08 D-band air search radar ,aft[1] BEL Nagin active towed array sonar,[2] BEL Electronic Modular Command & Control Applications (EMCCA Mk4) combat management system
Electronic warfare and decoys:	Elbit Systems Deseaver MK II countermeasures systems and defensive aids suite
Armament:	• Anti-ship: 4× 4-cell BrahMos UVLM[3] • Air-defence: 2× 32-cell VLS Barak II SAM[3] • CIWS: 4× 30 mm AK-630 gatling guns[3] • Anti-submarine warfare: Torpedo tubes and 2× RBU-6000[3]
Aviation facilities:	Flight deck and enclosed hangar for up to two naval helicopters

The Kolkata class of guided-missile destroyers of the Indian Navy were conceptualized under Project 15A, and include land-attack capability as well as some signature reduction features.^[4][5] Three ships of the class are being built at Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL).^[6] The first vessel is expected to join the fleet in 2012.^[7] Four more ships are planned under Project 15B,^[8] and construction was approved by India's Defence Acquisition Council in February 2009^[9]

Development

Hull unit of a 15A destroyer being built at Mazagon Docks

These are the largest warships ever constructed at Mazagon, the oldest Indian naval dockyard. The concept and function for Project 15A was framed by the Navy's Directorate of Naval Design, while the detailed design was developed by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL). Three vessels of the Kolkata class are under construction at MDL.^[10][11][12]

Aimed at adding improving the country's naval capabilities, India has launched the indigenous warship with enhanced stealth features and land-attack capabilities. Project 15 A, although conceived as a follow-on of the earlier Delhi class, has major advances in its weapons and sensors. Propelled by four Zarya reversible gas turbines from Ukraine, there was delay in construction due to default by Ukraine in delivering the propellers and shafts, the contract for which was later awarded to Russia.^[13]

Indian designed and built systems onboard include the HUMSA-NG (Hull Mounted Sonar Array – new generation) and the Nagin active towed array sonar.^[4] The vessels will also feature BrahMos cruise missiles and the Indo-Israeli Long Range Surface to Air Missile (LRSAM) which has a range of 70 km. Each vessel is expected to cost 38 billion (US$770.64 million), including the cost of spares and maintenance over the ship's life.^[14]

Ships of the class

Name	Pennant	Laid down	Launched	Sea trials	Commissioning
INS Kolkata		27 September 2003	30 March 2006[15][16]		March 2012[17]
INS Kochi		25 October 2005	18 September 2009[18]		March 2013
INS Chennai		21 February 2006	1 April 2010 [19]		March 2014

Project 15B

In January 2011, the Cabinet Committee for Security gave approval for four more destroyers under Project 15B. Even though Type 15B retains the hull form of Kolkata class destroyers, there will be changes in the superstructure and will be far stealthier with better sound and infrared suppression systems. The Project 15B will be armed with the Nirbhay cruise missile of 1,000 km range, the hypersonic Brahmos-II cruise missile and Extended Range Surface to Air Missile (ER-SAM) with a range of 100 km.^[20] Project 15 B differs from Project 15 A because of the “flush deck.” Flush Deck enable stealth as its smooth with less angles and corners. The displacement of each Project 15 B will be 7000 tonnes. except weaponry, which will be imported, the ship will be totally indigenous. It is also expected to carry Nirbhay and Brahmos – II cruise missiles. In addition It may feature Barak -II for Air defence. As with most Indian design, the ship will operate two helicopters.^[21]

Other similar ships

• Type 45 destroyer
• Horizon class frigate
• De Zeven Provinciën class frigate
• Sachsen class
• Álvaro de Bazán class frigate
• Type 052C destroyer
• Akizuki class destroyer

References

Notes

1. ^ "Bharat Electronics Ltd. awards LW08 contract to Thales". Thalesgroup.com. 2008-07-02. http://www.thalesgroup.com/Press_Releases/naval_Press_Release_Bharat_Electronics_awards_LW08/. Retrieved 2010-04-02. 
2. ^ "Indian Navy to get four new destroyers". dnaindia.com. 2009-03-17. http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1239890. Retrieved 2010-04-02. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d} John Pike (23 April 2009). "Project 15A Kolkata Class Destroyer". GlobalSecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/d-delhi-specs.htm. Retrieved 13 June 2011. 
4. ^ ^{a b} John Pike (23 April 2009). "Project 15-A Improved Delhi/Bangalore/DDGHM Kolkata". GlobalSecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/d-project-15a.htm. Retrieved 13 June 2011. 
5. ^ "Indigenous warship INS Kolkata launched". Outlookindia.com. March 30, 2006. http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=374052. Retrieved 2010-04-02. 
6. ^ "No official word from Russia on delay in warship delivery". Zeenews.com. 2007-07-19. http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=383765&sid=NAT&ssid=&news=No%20official%20word%20from%20Russia%20on%20delay%20in%20warship%20delivery. Retrieved 2010-04-02. 
7. ^ Rakesh Koshy. "Project 15A {Kolkata} Class". Bharat-rakshak.com. http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NAVY/Ships/Future/192-Project-15a.html. Retrieved 2010-04-02. 
8. ^ Dec 2008 article Forceindia.net^{[dead link]}
9. ^ [1]^{[dead link]}
10. ^ Indian Navy: Global & Local - I (2008-04-15). "World-class warships at Indian prices". Business-standard.com. http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=320123. Retrieved 2010-04-02. 
11. ^ "Mazagon Dock lays keel of destroyer". Hindu.com. 2003-09-27. http://www.hindu.com/2003/09/27/stories/2003092702901200.htm. Retrieved 2010-04-02. 
12. ^ "Mazagon Dock Annual Report". Mdlindia.com. http://www.mdlindia.com/annual_report/Directors%20Report%202005-06_231106.pdf. Retrieved 2010-04-02. 
13. ^ "Russia steps in to bail out sinking Project 15-A". Business-standard.com. 2009-04-01. http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/russia-steps-in-to-bail-out-sinking-project-15-a/353555/. Retrieved 2010-04-02. 
14. ^ Indian Navy: Global & Local - I (2008-04-15). "World-class warships at Indian prices". Business-standard.com. http://www.business-standard.com/common/news_article.php?leftnm=10&bKeyFlag=BO&autono=320123. Retrieved 2010-04-02. 
15. ^ Reagan Gavin Rasquinha, TNN, Apr 1, 2006, 08.44pm IST (2006-04-01). "Queen of the high seas - Bombay Times - City". The Times of India. Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Bombay_Times/Queen_of_the_high_seas/articleshow/msid-1473297,curpg-1.cms. Retrieved 2010-04-02. 
16. ^ "National : A lethal combination of stealth and strength". The Hindu. 2006-04-01. http://www.hindu.com/2006/04/01/stories/2006040104971300.htm. Retrieved 2010-04-02. 
17. ^ Fleet Strength of Indian Navy
18. ^ "Mazagon Docks to Launch INS Kochi on Friday". News.outlookindia.com. http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?666275. Retrieved 2010-04-02. 
19. ^ "India's 3rd indigenous naval destroyer launched". Ibnlive.in.com. 2010-02-03. http://ibnlive.in.com/news/indias-3rd-indigenous-naval-destroyer-launched/112506-3.html. Retrieved 2010-04-02. 
20. ^ Sandeep Unnithan (2009-03-18). "Govt okays construction of 4 more stealth destroyers". Indiatoday.intoday.in. http://indiatoday.intoday.in/index.php?issueid=97&id=32769&option=com_content&task=view&sectionid=4. Retrieved 2010-04-02. 
21. ^ http://frontierindia.net/indian-navy-to-get-4-more-kolkata-class-destroyers Indian Navy to get 4 more Kolkata Class destroyers

External links

• GlobalSecurity.Org: Project 15-A Improved Delhi / Bangalore / DDGHM Kolkata
• Kolkata class destroyer - Bharat Rakshak

Video links

• Launch of INS Kochi on YouTube