India launches stealth destroyer INS Kochi

The second of the three Project 15-A stealth destroyers was launched on Friday by Madhulika Verma, wife of Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Nirmal Verma.

The 6500-ton ship, to be named INS Kochi, is being built by Mazagon Docks Limited in Mumbai.

Designed indigenously by the Directorate of Naval Design, these are follow-on of the existing Delhi Class destroyers -- INS Delhi, INS Mysore and INS Mumbai. 

The ship has advanced stealth features, which make it less vulnerable to detection by enemy radar and will be fitted with state-of-the-art weapon systems, which include the supersonic BrahMos surface-to-surface missile, the LRSAM Long Range Surface-to-Air Missiles and the MFStar multi-function

radar system providing accurate data on surface and air targets.

In addition, four AK-630 rapid-fire guns and a medium range gun will boost the ship's close-range defence capability.

The ships will also be fitted with indigenously developed twin-tube torpedo launchers and anti-submarine rocket launchers, the NPOL developed Humsa-NG hull-mounted sonar, and two multi-role helicopters adding punch to the ship's anti-submarine capability.

The maximum speed of the ship is above 30 knots. 

The destroyer will be launched using the pontoon-assisted launch technique -- to be employed for the first time in the history of Indigenous warship building. This technique helps in overcoming slipway/draft constraints and permits launching of heavier vessels.