Armed to conquer the enemy: Naval warship INS Kochi commissioned on Wednesday

India’s biggest, indigenously built warship INS Kochi was commissioned into the Indian Navy by Defence Minister Manohar Parikkar on Wednesday morning. The warship is the second of three destroyers being built at the Mazgaon Docks in Mumbai, The Times of India reported.

Commissioning it, Parikkar described the 7,500-tonnes vessel, capable of speeds of 30 knots, to be “as good as any foreign ship”.

The commissioning of the warship is particularly important since, as reported by The Times of India, destroyers are considered to be second only to aircraft carriers in showcasing defensive power on the seas. According to a report in Mail Online India , while the defence ministry has cleared its procurement, its installation will take place after about a year.

Here are the key facts about INS Kochi, which has Jahi Shatrun Mahabaho (Armed to conquer the enemy) as its motto- -The contract for three ships of Kolkata class was signed as a follow-on to the legendary Delhi-class Destroyers, which were commissioned into the Navy more than a decade ago, a defence spokesperson said. Designed by the Navy’s in-house organisation, Directorate of Naval Design, and constructed by Mazagon Dock Ship builders Ltd in Mumbai, the ship is christened after the port city of Kochi.

-Although conceived as a follow-on of the earlier Delhi class, this ship is vastly superior and has major advancements in weapons and sensors. The ship incorporates new design concepts for improved survivability, stealth, sea-keeping and manoeuvrability. According to a report in The Hindu , the weapons on the warship include the BrahMos surface-to-surface missile, a 76 mm Super Rapid Gun Mount and AK-630 Close-in Weapon System. The ship is also equipped to operate two Sea King or Chetak helicopters.

-With a displacement of 7,500 tonnes, the majestic ship spanning 164 metres in length and 17 metres at the beam, is propelled by four gas turbines and designed to achieve speeds in excess of 30 knots. The ship has been assigned a crew of about 40 officers and 350 sailors.

-Enhanced stealth features have been achieved through the shaping of the hull and the use of radar-transparent deck fittings. A bow-mounted sonar dome, the second of its kind in an indigenous naval platform, has been introduced to enhance sonar acoustic performance, according to a spokesperson. The ship is one of the few warships of the world and the second in the Indian Navy to have Multi-Function Surveillance and Threat Alert Radar to provide target data to Long Range Surface to Air Missile system. According to the Mail Online India report, it relies on online applications to protect itself from cyber threats.

With inputs from agencies