INS Kolkata Inducted, PM Says Military Might Best Deterrent to War

By siliconindia | Monday, 18 August 2014, 03:24 Hrs

Referring to India's naval capabilities built over the ages, the PM said,"As I stand on Maharashtra's shores and speak of the navy, it is but natural to be reminded of Chhatrapati Shivaji. His was the first contribution to the conceptualisation and rise of the navy as means to secure India's maritime interests."

Defence Minister Arun Jaitley congratulated the Navy on the commissioning of INS Kolkata.

The warship, constructed by the Mazagon Dockyards Limited, has been designed by Navy's design bureau. The 6,800 tonne warship is a technology demonstrator and will showcase a giant leap in indigenous shipbuilding technology.

The Prime Minister had dedicated India's largest warship INS Vikramaditya to the nation in June in his first outing after taking charge.

INS Kolkata will be a part of the Kolkata Class destroyers of the Indian Navy which will include follow-on ships by the name of INS Kochi and INS Chennai respectively.

The keel of the warship was laid down in September 2003 and the ship was launched in 2006. Its original commissioning was planned in 2010 but there were delays.

The ship had also suffered a mishap during the trial phase when a Navy officer lost his life during an incident in the fire-fighting equipment of the vessel.

The warship was, however, commissioned without its main air defence weapon which protects the vessel from aerial attacks.

Source: PTI