Project-15B stealth guided missile destroyers

Project-15B stealth guided missile destroyers

Part of: Prelims and GS-III – Defence and security 

Context The first ship of the four Project-15B state-of-the-art stealth guided missile destroyers, Visakhapatnam, being built at the Mazgaon Docks Limited (MDL), was delivered to the Navy recently.

• The four ships are named after major cities from all four corners of the country — Visakhapatnam, Mormugao, Imphal and Surat.

Key takeaways 

• The 163-metre-long warship has a full load displacement of 7,400 tonnes and a maximum speed of 30 knots. 
• It has approximately 75% indigenous content .
• These ships are equipped with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and long-range Surface-to-Air missiles (SAM).
• The induction would enhance the maritime prowess in the Indian Ocean Region.
• Certain enhanced stealth features of the ships make them difficult to detect 
• These ships are propelled by four gas turbines in Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) configuration

About BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles

• Carried out by: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from Balasore in Odisha.
• BrahMos surface-to-surface supersonic cruise missile features indigenous Booster and Airframe Section along with many other ‘Made in India’ sub-systems.
• The BrahMos Land-Attack Cruise Missile was cruising at a top speed of Mach 2.8.