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Y 12704 (Visakhapatnam): Navy Receives First Ship of ‘Project 15B’

  • 01 Nov 2021

On 28th October 2021, Y 12704 (Visakhapatnam), the lead ship of Project 15B stealth guided missile destroyers being built at Mazgaon Docks Limited (MDL), was delivered to the Indian Navy.

(Image Source: Indian Express)

  • The contract for four ships of Project 15B, as the Visakhapatnam class ships are known, was signed on 28 January 2011.
  • This project is a follow-on of the Kolkata class (Project 15A) destroyers commissioned in the last decade.
  • Designed by Directorate of Naval Design, Indian Navy’s in-house design organisation; and built by M/s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd, Mumbai; the four ships are christened after major cities from all four corners of the country viz. Visakhapatnam, Mormugao, Imphal and Surat.
  • The 163 metres long warship has a full load displacement of 7400 tonnes and maximum speed of 30 knots.
  • The overall indigenous content of the project is approx. 75%. Apart from myriad indigenous equipment in the ‘Float’ and ‘Move’ categories, the destroyer is also installed with major indigenous weapons which include:
    • Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (BEL, Bangalore).
    • BrahMos Surface-to-Surface Missiles (BrahMos Aerospace, New Delhi).
    • Indigenous Torpedo Tube Launchers (Larsen & Toubro, Mumbai).
    • Anti-Submarine Indigenous Rocket Launchers (Larsen & Toubro, Mumbai).
    • 76mm Super Rapid Gun Mount (BHEL, Haridwar).