The Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, commissioned INS Kolkata into the Indian Navy at a ceremony held on August 16 at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai.
Kolkata is the lead ship of the indigenously designed and constructed Kolkata-class guided missile destroyers, built by Mazagon Dock Limited, Mumbai.
The function was attended by a host of senior dignitaries, from both the civilian as well as naval community.
Admiral RK Dhowan, during his address, said that commissioning of INS Kolkata is a milestone in the self-reliance programme of the Navy and stressed that indigenisation of platforms, weapons, sensors and equipment, through public as well as private sectors, will continue to remain a focus area. He emphasized that the ‘Roadmap for the Navy’s expansion and growth would continue to remain firmly anchored on Self-reliance and Indigenisation’.
The Project 15A Kolkata class destroyers are follow-on of the legendary Project 15 ‘Delhi’ class destroyers which entered service in the late 1990s. Conceived and designed by Indian Navy’s Directorate of Naval Design, the ships have been christened after major port cities of India viz. Kolkata, Kochi and Chennai. The keel of Kolkata was laid on 26 September 2003 and the ship was launched on 30 March 2006.
This warship measures 164 meters in length and approximately 18 meters in width and has a full load displacement of 7400 tonnes. The ship has a Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) propulsion system, consisting of four powerful reversible gas turbines and can attain speeds in excess of 30 knots. The ship’s electric power is provided by four gas turbine generators and one diesel alternator, which together produce 4.5 Mega-Watts of electrical power, enough to light up a small town. The ship has a complement of 30 officers and 300 sailors.