INS Chennai commissioned into Navy

Manohar Parrikar today commissioned 'INS Chennai', the third indigenously designed guided missile destroyer in the Kolkata class, here.

Mumbai, Nov 21: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today commissioned 'INS Chennai', the third indigenously designed guided missile destroyer in the Kolkata class, here.

Built at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd in Mumbai, the ship's construction also marks the end of the Project 15A to build Kolkata-class guided missile destroyers. Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba, was also present on the occasion.

"This is a historic day for the Indian Navy, commissioning of the INS Chennai commissioned into Navy," Parrikar said on the occasion.

When asked about his upcoming Bangladesh trip, he said, "It is a planned trip.Defence Minister should go to neighbouring nations where he anticipates good friendship."

With an overall length of 164 metres and displacement of over 7,500 tons, 'INS Chennai' is one of the largest destroyers in the Indian Navy's fleet. The ship is armed with supersonic surface-to-surface BrahMos missiles and Barak-8 long range surface-to-air missiles.

The ship is going to be assigned to the western fleet after completion of some additional trials of systems deployed on it. It is the final destroyer ship in this class. The first ship of the class, named 'INS Kolkata', was commissioned on August 16, 2014, followed by 'INS Kochi' which was commissioned on September 30, 2015.

The third destroyer will be placed under the operational and administrative control of the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command.

PTI