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INS Rajput (D51)

1980 COLD WAR MODERN NAVY

History

Destroyers make up a considerable proportion of the Indian Navy's modern surface fleet. The service includes three similar types in Kolkata classes, Delhi classes and the older Rajput classes. The Rajput class is led by INS Rajput (D51) and supported by INS Rana (D52), INS Ranjit (D53), INS Ranvir (D54) and INS Ranvijay (D55).

The design of this class is based on the Soviet Navy's Cold War-era (1947-1991) Kashin-class destroyer form and includes modifications to suit the needs of the Indian Navy in the 1980s. The ships were built at the Soviet shipyard (now Ukraine) (Shipyard No. 61 in Kommunara).

The INS Rajput (D51) was commissioned on 30 September 1980 and is still in service with the Indian Navy today (Dec 2017) as a guided missile destroyer. It is part of the surface force of the Indian Navy's Eastern Naval Command and can provide the service with airspace denial capabilities, as well as hunt down enemy submarines and surface fighter jets, or strike inland land-based targets with cruise missiles and artillery strikes.

The ship is also well protected against close-range attacks with artillery and electronic warfare (EW)/countermeasures (CM) equipment, as well as modern sensors and radar.

Compared to the original Soviet Kashin class, the Rajput class has eliminated the "Y" position (tail) gun mount and replaced it with a helicopter hangar and helipad. The ship also lost the Scream Owl fire control director at its aft mount, and added SS-N-2D (Mod 2) Styx missile launchers forward of the bridge section.

The Indian version of the ship retains Kasin's air defense (AA) and anti-submarine (ASW) capabilities and pioneered land-based attack from sea with locally designed and developed Brahmmos cruise missiles - effectively INS Rajput is an important part of missile development as it plays a role in the missile's testing phase.

The INS Rajput displaces 4,000 tons under standard load and 5,000 tons under full load, with a length of 482 feet, a beam of 52 feet, and a draft of 16 feet. Installed power consists of 4 M-3E3 gas turbine engines of 18,000 hp each (72,000 hp total) driving 2 shafts under the stern.

Under ideal conditions, the top speed is 35 knots and the range is about 4,000 miles. There are about 320 officers and men on board.

Warships are equipped with a variety of radar systems and sensors, as well as hull-mounted and towed sonar arrays. Arming is spearheaded by 4 x Brahmos cruise missiles housed in distinctly sloping launchers on either side of the bow, with 2 x Styx AShM missiles for anti-aircraft missions. More conventional weapons include a 76mm turret deck gun (leading weapon at the far end of the forecastle), 4 x 30mm AK-230 Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) for short-term airspace denial/protection and 1 x 533 mm quintuple torpedo launcher.

There are also 2 RBU-6000 Anti-Submarine Rocket (ASROC) launchers. The ship supports a single Kamov-28 (or similar) naval helicopter for anti-submarine/anti-ship missions.

In section, the INS Rajput has a stepped deck line with a high bow, a separate tower above the forecastle and a stepped superstructure aft. There is a gun control dome above the bridge and the main mast has an exposed lattice/pyramid design. All chimneys have a flat design, giving the boat a fairly low profile on the horizon.

The remainder of the stern superstructure is noticeably flat, culminating in the helideck at the very rear of the warship.