Defence minister Rajnath Singh along with CDS Gen Anil Chauhan, Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar and other dignitaries attended the commissioning of INS Mormugao, a P15B stealth-guided missile destroyer into the Indian Navy. Rajnath Singh arrived in Mumbai for the commissioning ceremony.
It is the induction of the second of the four ‘Visakhapatnam’ class destroyers, indigenously designed by the Indian Navy’s in-house organisation Warship Design Bureau, and built by the Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd., Mumbai.
Where we are standing is the land of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharashtra. Name of Mormugao fort and Mormogao port is well-known. Mormogao port has it’s significant contribution in indian maritime history. We will not only be make in india but will be able to make ships for other as well,” said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
“Today is yet another milestone in the history of indigenous warship building as we commission the destroyer Mormugao, particularly when our sister ship Visakhapatnam was inducted into the Indian Navy just over a year ago,” said Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar.
“This achievement is indicative of the large strides we have taken in warship design and building capability over the last decade. The Navy has a tradition of naming ships after cities which creates an enduring umbilical link between the two,” he further added.
The majestic ship measures 163m in length, and 17 m in breadth with a displacement of 7400 tonnes and can rightfully be regarded as one of the most potent warships to have been constructed in India. The ship is propelled by four powerful Gas Turbines, in a Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) configuration, capable of achieving speeds in excess of 30 knots. The ship has enhanced stealth features resulting in a reduced Radar Cross Section (RCS).
Mormugao is packed with sophisticated ‘state of the art’ weapons and sensors such as Surface to Surface Missile and Surface to Air Missiles. The ship is fitted with a modern Surveillance Radar which provides target data to the gunnery weapon systems of the ship. The ship’s Anti-Submarine Warfare capabilities are provided by the indigenously developed Rocket Launchers, Torpedo Launchers and ASW helicopters. The ship is equipped to fight under Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) warfare conditions,” read an official statement by the Ministry of Defence.