INS Visakhapatnam (D66)

Stealth Guided-Missile Destroyer [ 2021 ]

INS Visakhapatnam D66 represents the lead ship of the four-strong stealth-minded guided-missile destroyer group for the Indian Navy.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 11/16/2021 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

Image from the Indian Navy; Public Release.

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The current destroyer force of the modern Indian Navy fleet includes hulls from three distinct ship classes: Kolkata-class, Delhi-class, and Rajput-class. Kolkata vessels represent a more modern, stealth-centric offering in the guided-missile destroyer field and are backed by the more conventional Delhi and Rajput classes, the latter based in the Soviet-era Kashin-class. With age becoming an issue in the Delhi- and Rajput classes, the service has seen fit to invest in a much more modern replacement, this becoming the all-new Visakhapatnam-class of which four total vessels will be built to the standard.

Lead ship INS Visakhapatnam (D66) has already been delivered to the service and awaits formal commissioning in 2021. The warship had her keel laid down on October 12th, 2013 at Yard No. 12704 by Mazagon Dock Limited and was launched on April 20th, 2015. Official commissioning is set for November 21st, 2021. Sisters will include INS Mormugao (D67); INS Imphal (D68); and INS Surat (D69).

INS Visakhapatnam features a listed displacement of 8,200 tons (short) and a running length of 535 feet and a draught of 18 feet. Power is through a COmbined Gas-And-Gas (COGAG) arrangement for maximizing fuel efficiency. This involves 2 x Zorya M36E gas turbines with 4 x DT-59 gas turbines (reversrsable), 2 x Bergen/GRSE KVM-diesel units of 9,900 horsepower each, and 4 x Wartsila WCM-1000 generators driving Cummins KTA50G3 series engines. Top speed in optimal operating conditions is over 30 knots and range is out to 8,000 nautical miles (9,200 miles).

Aboard is a crew of 300 including 50 officer-level personnel. The warship is outfitted with the IAI EL/M-2248 MF-STAR S-band Active, Electronically-Scanned Array (AESA) multi-function radar, the Thales LW-08 D-band air-search radar, the BEL HUMSA-NG bow-mounted sonar, and the BEL Nagin active towed sonar array. The ship is defended from electrical and torpedo attacks by the DRDO Shakti Electronic Electronic Warfare (EW) suite, the BEL Ajanta Mk.2 EW suite, and 2 x Kavach decoy launchers.

Armament includes 1 x 76mm OTO-Melara turreted deck gun, 4 x 8-cell Vertical Launch Systems (VLSs) supporting Barak 8/8ER Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs), 2 x 8-cell VLM supporting BrahMos anti-ship / land-attack cruise missiles, 4 x 533mm torpedo tubes, 2 x RBU-6000 Anti-Submarine ROCket (ASROC) launchers, and 4 x AK-630 Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWSs).

Over the stern, the vessel can launch and retrieve a Westland Sea King or HAL Dhruv navalized helicopter for Over-the-Horizon (OtH) work including Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW). The integrated hangar facilities can house an additional rotary-wing unit.

The profile is traditionally arranged and an unbroken hull line with slab-sided hull walls promote inherent stealth features. The turreted deck gun sits over the forecastle with VLS units directly aft. Aft of these emplacements are defensive systems as well as the bridge superstructure. The superstructure seats the main mast and its enclosed design housing communications, sensors, and processing systems. At midships is the fully-enclosed smoke funnel assemblies and these are integrated to the aft-superstructure which leads out, in stepped fashion, to the helipad over the stern.

As a whole, INS Visakhapatnam adds a much modern flair to the Indian Navy, particular its surface combatant force which seeks to keep pace with regional rivals including Pakistan and neighboring China. The type is a multi-mission design capable of operating independently or as part of the main fighting fleet, giving it an enhanced level of versatility required of a modern fighting vessel.©MilitaryFactory.com

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Specifications

Mazagon Dock Limited - India
Shipbuilder(s)

India
Operators

2021
Commissioned

India
National Origin

Commissioned, Active
Project Status

300
Complement

Visakhapatnam-class
Hull Class

4
Number-in-Class

INS Visakhapatnam (D66); INS Mormugao (D67); INS Impha (D68); INS Surat (D69)
Ships-in-Class

Offshore Bombardment
Offshore bombardment / attack of surface targets / areas primarily through onboard ballistic weaponry.

Land-Attack
Offshore strike of surface targets primarily through onboard missile / rocket weaponry.

Maritime Patrol
Active patroling of vital waterways and maritime areas; can also serve as local deterrence against airborne and seaborne threats.

Airspace Denial / Deterrence
Neutralization or deterrence of airborne elements through onboard ballistic of missile weaponry.

Fleet Support
Serving in support (either firepower or material) of the main surface fleet in Blue Water environments.

PRIMARY TURRET(S)
Main armament is housed in primary turret(s) arrangement offering enhanced protection.

ANTI-AIRCRAFT
Onboard systems alert and protect the vessel from airborne, low-flying airborne threats through ballistic and / or missile weaponry.

OVER-THE-HORIZON
An Over-the-Horizon operational capability is granted to the vessel, typically through launched fixed-wing / rotary-wing aircraft.

MISSILE ARMAMENT
The vessel supports the launching of missiles against airborne, waterborne, or land-based targets at range; typical of modern designs.

TORPEDOES
Ability to launch torpedoes against ocean-going targets.

ANTI-SUBMARINE ROCKETS
Ability to launch salvo of rockets against submarine threats.

535.0 feet
(163.07 meters)
Length

18.0 feet
(5.49 meters)
Draught

8,200
tons
Displacement

Propulsion

30.5 knots
(35.1 mph)
Surface Speed

7,995 nm
(9,200 miles | 14,806 km)
Range

1 knot = 1.15 mph; 1 nm = 1.15 mile; 1 nm = 1.85 km

1 x 76mm OTO-Melara turreted deck gun.
4 x 8-cell Vertical Launch System (VLS) for Barak 8/8ER Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs).
2 x 8-cell VLM for BrahMos anti-ship / land-attack cruise missiles.
4 x 53mm torpedo tubes.
2 x RBU-6000 Anti-Submarine ROCket (ASROC) launchers.
4 x AK-630 Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWSs).

1 OR 2 x Medium-lift navalized helicopters operated from the stern. Typically Westland Sea King or HAL Dhruv types.

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Image from the Indian Navy; Public Release.

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