INS Kochi Guided Missile Destroyer To Be Commissioned Tomorrow

The Indian guided missile destroyer INS Kochi will be commissioned on September 30.

The 7,500 tonne INS Kochi worth US$606.5 million is equipped with weapons, sensors and advanced stealth features and it is second of three Kolkata-class destroyers, being constructed at Mazagaon Docks of Mumbai in India.

INS Kochi will strengthen the navy in discharging its duty of safeguarding its marine interests in the Indian Ocean region, Tehelka.com reported today.

The third ship known as INS Chennai is scheduled to be inducted in end of next year, meanwhile the first of the Kolkata class combat ship has already been commissioned in August last year.

“It reaffirms our faith our resolve and faith in indigenous ship building and make in India programme,” Admiral Robin Dhowan said Monday.

There is also on-going project to construct four more stealth destroyers, with the first known as INS Vishakhapatnam, which is slated for delivery in 2018 to 2019.

The Indian Navy plans to become 200 warships with about 600 aircraft and helicopters by 2027 to guard the country’s geo-strategic interests in the wake of IOR evolving as the world’s centre for gravity. Presently IOR has about 120 warships.