Manohar Parrikar commissions India's latest stealth missile destroyer INS Kochi

[caption id=“attachment_2451196” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] Naval warship INS Kochi, which was commissioned by Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar at Naval Dockyard in Mumbai on Wednesday, is the second ship of the indigenously designed and constructed Project 15A (Kolkata-class) guided missile destroyer, built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders. SOLARIS IMAGES[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2451194” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] Manohar Parrikar and Vice Admiral SPS Cheema, Flag Officer, Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command (right), arrive for the commissioning of INS Kochi on Thursday. The warship incorporates new design concepts for stealth and has many firsts to her credit, including a very large component of indigenous combat-suite. SOLARIS IMAGES[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2451202” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] The ship is packed with the most sophisticated state-of-the-art weapons and sensors including the vertically launched Long Range Surface to Air Missiles (LRSAM) and MF-STAR multi-function active phased array radar, which is fitted only on the Kolkata class of ships. SOLARIS IMAGES[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2451204” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] The 76 mm Super Rapid Gun Mount (SRGM) and AK 630 CIWS, both manufactured indigenously, can take on air and surface. The ship has a complement of about 40 officers and 350 sailors. Destroyer INS Kochi has the motto: Jahi Shatrun Mahabaho (Armed to conquer the enemy). SOLARIS IMAGES[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2451206” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] The stealth missile destroyer has a displacement of 7,500 tons and it is 164 metres in length and 17 metres at the beam. The ship is propelled by four gas turbines and designed to achieve speeds in excess of 30 knots. SOLARIS IMAGES[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2451208” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Vice Admiral SPS Cheema (right) speaks to media after the commissioning. The commissioning of the warship is particularly important since destroyers are considered to be second only to aircraft carriers in showcasing defensive power on the seas. While the defence ministry has cleared its procurement, its installation will take place after about a year. SOLARIS IMAGES[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2451210” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] 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. 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. SOLARIS IMAGES[/caption]