INS Kolkata, the indigenously built lead ship of the Kolkata-class guided-missile destroyers, has been delivered to the Indian Navy, following extensive sea trials and tests at the Mazgaon Dock (MDL), India.
The MDL-built anti-submarine warfare (ASW) vessel’s official commissioning ceremony could be held in a month’s time.
MDL chief managing director rear admiral (retired) R.K. Shrawat was quoted by the Asian Age as saying that the destroyer will be called Yard 701, but will be designated as INS Kolkata after the ceremony.
"The ship has finished construction with all user acceptance trials, sea trials and testing of the weapons systems," Shrawat said.
During the trials, which were conducted last month, the vessel launched the naval version of the Brahmos cruise missile off the coast of Karwar, to demonstrate its weapon handling system capability.
An MDL source said: "The purpose was to test the ship’s capability to withstand the missile, but not the missile itself."
INS Kochi and INS Chennai, the second and third ships of the Kolkata-class, are currently under different stages of construction and are scheduled to be delivered in late 2014 and mid-2015 respectively.
In a separate development, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reportedly approved funding of Rs190bn for the construction of the Vikrant-class aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, at Cochin shipyard, The Times of India reported.
The aircraft carrier’s construction is approximately 70% complete, with an investment of Rs35bn ($584.6m). The upper decks, cabling, sensors and weapons are now due to be integrated.
The warship is likely to be commissioned in 2018, according to the revised time frame.
