Indian Navy’s new destroyer, INS Visakhapatnam, which has the outstanding capability of operating in nuclear, biological and chemical warfare has been launched at the Mazgaon Docks Ltd (MDL) in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Visakhapatnam, was launched by Mrs. Minu Dhowan, wife of the Admiral R. K. Dhowan.
This approximately 3,000 tons weighing ship, which is the first of the four follow up order of the Kolkata Class warships that are being made, will be a major power to India’s maritime capabilities when it is inducted into the Indian Navy in 2018.
The ship has indigenous component of over 70 percent and the ship is made of Indian Steel which has been manufactured by Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL). Admiral Dhowan, said that the focus is on increasing the Indigenous components in the coming years. “For indigenisation, there are three segments — one is float segment where we have achieved more than 90 per cent indigenisation; the other is move segment which consists of the propulsion system where we have attained over 60 per cent indigenisation; and the third is fight segment which consists of weapons and sensors. We need to work on this as the level of indigenisation is 30 to 40 per cent” he said. The propulsion system of this warship is said to have been shipped from Russia.