INS Kolkata (D63)

History

The Indian Navy's modern surface fleet currently (2017) deploys 11 active destroyers. These include the Kolkata class, Delhi class and Rajput class, covering ranges of 8,160, 6,835 and 5,510 tons respectively.

The Calcutta class is a group of three "secret" guided missile destroyers whose primary armament is proper missile guidance. Inherent stealth features, such as panel fairings and enclosed sections of the hull structure, help the vessel reduce the risk of detection.

INS Kolkata (D63) was the lead ship of the Kolkata class. Her keel was laid by Mazagon Dock Limited in September 2003 and the vessel was launched on 30 March 2006. However, the Indian Navy did not acquire the ship until July 10, 2014, resulting in a serious delay to the commissioning ceremony on August 16, 2014. The warship, currently homeported in Mumbai, has the hull designation "D63" and operates under the motto "Always Ready for Battle".

As of this writing (December 2017), she is still in service.

The destroyer displaces 7,500 tons, is 535 feet long, 57 feet wide, and has a draft of 21 feet. The crew consists of 250 officers and soldiers. The powerplant consists of a COGAG (Combined Gas and Gas) unit, with a paired gas turbine connected to a common gearbox, allowing the selection of different propulsion power groups, resulting in improved fuel efficiency.

The warship can sail at just over 30 knots and has a top speed of 8,000 nautical miles (about 9,200 miles).

INS Kolkata carries Thales LW-08 D-band air search radar, as well as a bow-mounted BEL HUMSA-NG sonar and a BEL Nagin active towed sonar array.

Armament is at the heart of this warship, including projectile and missile based weapons (originating from India, Russia and Italy). Carry a 4 x 8 cell Vertical Launch System (VLS) for 32 x Barak 8 missiles. These form a long-range defense capability.

Land attack is possible via 2 x 8 cell UVLM cartridges for up to 16 x Brahmos anti-ship/anti-surface missiles. More conventional weapons are provided by turret-equipped 76mm OTO-Melara deck guns, 4 x AK-630 Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) and 4 x Mark 46 series torpedo launchers.

To counter the submarine threat, 2 RBU-6000 Anti-Submarine Rocket (ASROC) launchers are carried.

The warship shows a traditional design layout in section. The deck line is clear from bow to stern with a continuous superstructure with the main missile magazine and deck guns and turrets located above the forecastle. The bridge is installed in a position usually facing the bow, and the enclosed pyramid-shaped mast accommodates various systems and sensors.

Immediately aft of the bridge superstructure is the fracture where the first low-profile smoke funnel is located. The stern is a stern mast with special equipment and a second low profile funnel is located aft of the structure.

Aft is a helicopter flight deck, along with an attached hangar, which provides the capability to launch and retrieve two medium Navy helicopters. These can equip the boat with stalking/hunting capabilities and over-the-horizon operations.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

PERFORMANCE

ARMAMENT

AIR WING