Parrikar to commission indigenously built INS 'Chennai' today

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar will on Monday commission the indigenously designed and constructed Kolkata-class guided missile destroyer the India Naval Ship (INS) 'Chennai' into the navy, marking the completion of Project 15A.

Following the commissioning, INS Chennai will be placed under the operational and administrative control of the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command. On completion of some additional sea trials of ship-borne systems, it will be assigned to the Western Fleet and would be based at Mumbai.

INS Chennai, manufactured by Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai, is among the largest destroyers constructed in India having a length of 164 meter and displacement of over 7,500 tonne. The ship is a potent platform capable of undertaking a variety of tasks and missions, spanning the full spectrum of maritime warfare.

Armed with supersonic surface to surface 'BrahMos' missiles and 'Barak-8' long range surface to air missiles, the ship possesses formidable prowess of missile technology. The undersea warfare capable boasts of indigenously developed anti-submarine weapons and sensors, prominently the Hull Mounted Sonar 'HUMSA-NG', Heavyweight Torpedo Tube Launchers, Rocket Launchers and Towed Arrau sonar capability.

For defence against enemy missiles, the ship is fitted with 'Kavach' chaff decoy system and for defence against enemy torpedoes, it is fitted with 'Mareech' torpedo decoy system, both developed indigenously in India.

The ship is designed to carry and operate up to two multi-role helicopters.

The ship is propelled by a powerful Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) propulsion plant, consisting of four reversible gas turbines, which enables it to achieve a top speed of over 30 knots (approximately 55 km per hour).

The ship boasts of a very high level of automation with sophisticated digital networks such as ATM-based integrated Ship Data Network (AISDN), Combat Management System (CMS), Automatic Power Management System (APMS) and Auxilliary Control System (ACS).

The ship's crest depicts the outline of the iconic Fort Saint George at Chennai in the background, a part of the adjacent beach in front, and a sloop on blue and white waves in the background.

The crew of the ship abides by the Sanskrit motto 'Shatro Sanharaka' meaning 'Vanquisher of Enemies'. The motto epitomises the warrior spirit and strong resolve of the ship and her crew to prevail and succeed in combat.

INS Kolkata, the first ship of the class was commissioned on August 16, 2014, and INS Kochi, the second ship of the class was commissioned on September 30, 2015.