The future of Indian Navy || Everything You Need to Know About PROJECT 15A & 15B

We all know the major function of a Navy is to ensure that no hostile maritime power can interfere into a nation's security either by offensive operations against the enemy or by defensive operations to
protect own territory. While our Army and Air Force are busy in doing their duties along with building the bridges of friendship, the Navy is secretly taking care of the tunnels of relation through the depth of geography. No doubt the Indian Navy is one of the most powerful naval forces in this world and it has been aggressively putting all its efforts to become the strongest force and to ensure maximum security to the nation. In this article, we are going to discuss Everything You Need To Know about it.

Why 15A and 15B?

The Delhi-class destroyers (Project 15) which had three ships (still active) were guided-missile destroyers of the Indian Navy. They were the largest armed ships to be built in India at the time of their commissioning. The ships were built by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) at a cost of 7.5 billion (equivalent to 24 billion or US$350 million in 2018) each. The three ships are INS Delhi, INS Mysore and INS Mumbai.
Despite many successful trials of firing, some technical issues led the future of the destroyers into doubt. And for this an improvement was much needed which gave birth to 15A and 15B.

Image Source - Join Indian Navy

PROJECT 15A

The Kolkata class destroyers are a class of stealth guided missile destroyers constructed for the Indian Navy. The class comprises three ships – Kolkata, Kochi and Chennai, all of them built by MDL in India, and are the largest destroyers to be operated by the Indian Navy. The destroyers are a successors of the Project 15 Delhi-class destroyers, and are considerably more capable. The Kolkata Class destroyers are similar in dimensions to the Delhi Class destroyers along with 2,363 modifications which include major upgrades in weaponry, sensors and helicopter systems.

• NAME: KOLKATA CLASS
• BUILDERS: MAZAGON DOCK LTD.
• OPERATORS: INDIAN NAVY
• PRECEDED BY: DELHI CLASS
• SUCCEEDED BY: VISHAKHAPATNAM CLASS
• BUILT: 2003-2015
• PLANNED: 3
• COMPLETED: 3
• ACTIVE: 3

PROJECT 15B:

The Visakhapatnam class is a class of stealth guided missile destroyers that is currently under construction for the Indian Navy. The class contains four ships - Visakhapatnam, Mormugao, Imphal and Porbandar all of which are being built by the  Mazagon Dock Limited  (MDL) in India, and will be the largest destroyers to be operated by the Indian Navy.
The destroyers are the improved version of the Kolkata-class (Project 15A) and will show distinctive
characteristics. The first ship is anticipated to enter service in 2021.
Difference from Kolkata class :

• They share the same outer design but differ in internal fitments that separates the two destroyer classes
• Armed with a 127 mm main gun
• SONAR to be relocated from hull to the bow
• Revised bridge layout and a mast design to reduce radar cross-section 
• Rail-less helicopter traversing system to secure the helicopter
• Network-centric layout with a Ship Data Network (SDN), an Automatic Power Management System (APMS) and a Combat Management System (CMS)

Well, India is known for its breathtaking wonderful achievements as the nation has always ensured to give out the most effective and record braking performances in a low budget. For example, MISSION
MOM(MANGALYAN). And this time as well, project 15A and 15B, not only focused on making the best ever and one of the most heavily armed warships, but also the ships are cheapest of their kind.

OF COURSE, WE ARE ECONOMICALLY SMART.
HAIL INDIAN NAVY!

Hola people! I am Arya Kapoor. I am an English hons. student pursuing the course from University of Delhi. I have a keen interest in science and technology as well as I love writing, may it be contents for any social cause or current affairs etc. People who hang around with me find me singing the whole day long.