INS Kochi, indigenously built largest warship, dedicated to the nation

Union Defence Minister Manohar Parikkar on 30 September 2015 dedicated the INS Kochi at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai.

It is the largest warship built so far in India weighing over 7500 tonnes.

Its nearest competitor is INS Kolkata that was commissioned in August 2014 and weights around 6800 tonnes.

Features of INS Kochi

• It incorporates an array of state-of-the-art weapons and sensors including long-range surface-to-surface BrahMos missile.
• It weighs 7500 tonnes spanning 164 metres in length and 17 metres at the beam.
• It is propelled by four gas turbines and can achieve speeds in excess of 30 knots.
• It has 76mm Super Rapid Gun Mount (SRGM) and AK 630 Close in Weapon System (CIWS) designed to take on air and surface targets.

• It is the second in the Indian Navy, next to INS Kolkata, to have Multi-Function Surveillance and Threat Alert Radar(MF-STAR) to provide target data to Long Range Surface to Air Missile system (LR-SAM).
• It is equipped to operate two Sea King or Chetak helicaptors.
• It was designed by Directorate of Naval Design and constructed by Mazagon Dock Ship builders Ltd. in Mumbai.
• It is the second ship of the Kolkata-class (Project 15A) Guided Missile Destroyers.

About Kolkata-class warships

• It was conceived as follow-on of the earlier Delhi class warships.
• Under the Project 15A three ships were conceived so far-INS Kolkata, INS Kochi and INS Chennai.
• While the INS Kolkata is already in operation, the INS Chennai is expected to join the navy in 2016.

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