According to a tweet published by the Indian MoD on November 24, 2022, the second of four Visakhapatnam class destroyers INS Mormugao being built at MDL, was delivered to the Indian Navy.
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Visakhapatnam class destroyer INS Mormugao. (Picture source: Indian Navy)
INS Mormugao is the second ship of the Visakhapatnam-class stealth guided-missile destroyers of the Indian Navy. She is being constructed at Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL), and has been launched on 17 September 2016.
The Visakhapatnam-class destroyers, also classified as the P-15 Bravo class, or simply P-15B, is a class of guided-missile destroyers currently being built for the Indian Navy.
The Visakhapatnam class is an upgraded derivative of its predecessor, the Kolkata class, with improved features of stealth, automation and ordnance. Designed by the Warship Design Bureau (WDB), a total of four ships are being built by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL), under the Make in India initiative.
The ships have a length of 163 m (534 ft 9 in), a beam of 17.4 m (57 ft 1 in), and a draft of 6.5 m (21 ft 4 in). They can reach a top speed of 33.5 knots (62.0 km/h; 38 mph).
For its anti-surface warfare (ASuW) capabilities, the class features sixteen BrahMos anti-ship cruise missiles, capable of speeds of up to Mach 3. The BrahMos is widely regarded as one of the most formidable anti-ship missiles currently in service, given the missile's extreme versatility and maneuverability.
Additionally, the vessels of the class are equipped with one OTO Melara 76 mm naval gun. Originally, the Indian Navy had planned to install the Mk-45 127 mm (5 in) naval gun, manufactured by BAE; however, this plan was scrapped in 2021, on account of financial constraints.
As part of its anti-air warfare (AAW) capabilities, the class features thirty-two Barak 8ER surface-to-air missiles, with sixteen missiles present in four "2 x 4" VLS configurations - with two placed at the bow and two placed aft.
The Barak 8ER, also classified as the LR-SAM, is an "extended-range" variant of the original Barak 8 - designed to neutralize various aerial threats, including fighter aircraft, helicopters, anti-ship missiles, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV); the new variant is expected to feature a range of about 150 km (93 mi).
For point defense, the vessels are equipped with four AK-630M close-in weapon systems (CIWS), with two systems on either side of the superstructure.
For its anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities, the class features two twin torpedo launchers, designed to launch heavyweight torpedoes - such as the Varunastra heavyweight torpedo, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). The class also features two RBU-6000 (RPK-8) anti-submarine rocket launchers, capable of firing ASW projectiles to depths of up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft).
