Project 15B Visakhapatnam-class - Design

Project 15B ships feature cutting edge advanced technology and are generally comparable to the ships of similar class elsewhere in the world. These ships have been designed indigenously by the Indian Navy's Directorate of Naval Design, New Delhi. Each ship spans 163 meters in length and 17.4 meters at beam and displaces 7300 tonnes. These ships will be propelled by four gas turbines to achieve speeds in excess of 30 knots. The P15B destroyers incorporate new design concepts for improved survivability, sea keeping, stealth and ship manoeuvrability. Enhanced stealth features have been achieved through shaping of hull and use of radar transparent deck fitting which make these ships difficult to detect. P15B ships will be equipped to carry and operate two multiple role helicopters.

These ships are packed with an array of state of the art weapons and sensors, including multi-functional surveillance radars and vertically launched missile system for long distance engagement of shore, sea-based and air targets. With significant indigenous content, these ships are a true hallmark of self-reliance attained by our country in warship design and shipbuilding, and a shining example of the 'Make in India' philosophy.

The stealth warship has a displacement of 7,300 tons and is 163 meters long. These ships will be propelled by four gas turbines in Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) configuration and are capable of achieving speeds in excess of 30 knots [the warships can achieve a maximum speed of 31-32 knots] with a maximum endurance of 4000 nm. The Visakhapatnam-class vessels are designed to carry two multiple-role helicopters and are equipped with a vertical launching missile system capable of engaging shore- and sea-based targets from long range.

The P15B destroyers incorporate new design concepts for improved survivability, sea keeping, stealth and ship maneuverability. These ships will be equipped to carry and operate two multi-role helicopters. State of art rail less helo traversing system is being introduced on these ships for efficient helicopter handling onboard. By increasing the cavitation inception speed the hydrodynamic noises and vibrations have been effectively reduced at the cruising speed in each of the ships of Project 15B.

These ships can truly be classified as possessing a Network of Networks, as they are equipped with Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS), Ship Data Network (SDN), Automatic Power Management System (APMS) and Combat Management System (CMS). While control and monitoring of machinery and auxiliaries is achieved through the IPMS, power management is done using the APMS. The CMS performs threat evaluation and resource allocation based on the tactical picture compiled and ammunition available onboard. The SDN is the information highway on which data from all the sensors and weapons ride.

Stealth has been a major thrust area in P15B design. Enhanced stealth features have been achieved through shaping of hull and use of radar transparent deck fittings which make these ships difficult to detect. The ship embodies features such as Multiple Fire Zones, Total Atmospheric Control System (TACS) for Air Conditioning, Battle Damage Control Systems (BDCS), Distributional Power Systems and Emergency DA to enhance survivability and reliability in emergent scenarios.

These ships have been designed for a complement of 50 officers and 250 sailors. The accommodation and working spaces have been designed with special emphasis on ergonomics and habitability.

The ship’s fire power consists of sophisticated weapons-sensor suite including vertically launched Surface to Air Missiles (SAM) and Surface-to-Surface Missiles (SSM) for long distance engagement of shore and sea based targets. It is also noteworthy that this ship has significantly high indigenous content, in the form of weapons, machinery and material. These ships therefore showcase the Nation’s growing capability in developing and delivering complex warships, which serves as a true hall mark of self reliance attained by our country in warship design and construction. This high level of indigenization has been achieved through participation of both public and private sector.

Visakhapatnam, home of the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy, is a coastal, port city, often called "The Jewel of the East Coast", situated in the of Andhra Pradesh, located on the eastern shore of India, nestled among the hills of the Eastern Ghats and facing the Bay of Bengal to the east. It is the administrative headquarters of Visakhapatnam District. It is the second largest city in Andhra Pradesh with an area of 550 km², it is primarily an industrial city, apart from being a port city. It is also home to the Eastern Naval Command.

According to the history, the city was named after the god of Valor-Vishakha. It was a part of the Kalinga Kingdom, under Ashoka's rule in 260 BC. It passed on later to the Andhra Kings of Vengi. After this Pallava, Chola and Ganga dynasties ruled the city.In the 15th century, Vishakhapatnam became a part of the Vijayanagar Empire. It is often called the best tourism destination in Andhra Pradesh. From Lakes to cool Beaches, from beautiful Hill Ranges to Caves and Valleys, Visakhapatnam has them all. The district has many tourism spots that represent the Culture and Heritage of the true India.

The four ships of Project 15B ships being built at MDL, Mumbai have been designed indigenously by the Directorate of Naval Design, Delhi and bear testimony to the acclaimed legacy of Naval designers. With adisplacement of 7300 tons, each ship spans 163 meters in length and 17.4 meters at the beam and is propelled by four gas turbines to achieve speed in excess of 30 knots. The P15B destroyers incorporate new design concepts for improved survivability, sea keeping, stealth and manuverability. Enhanced stealth features have been achieved through shaping of hull and use of radar transparent deck fittings which make these ships difficult to detect. These ships will be equipped to carry and operate two multiple role helicopters.

These ships are packed with an array of state of the art weapons and sensors, including vertically launched missile system for long distance engagement of shore and sea-based targets. With significant indigenous content, these ships are a hallmark of self-reliance attained by the country in warship design and ship building.

But the P-15B has no evident great technical improvement compared to the previous P-15A "Kolkata" level, it is only larger in displacement though not in lenght or beam. In addition, the cost of this type of ship is also relatively expensive.

The radar provided by Israel is a more advanced active phased array radar, and its mechanism of action is more effective than the passive phased array radar used by the US and Japan. However, the missile is still the Israeli-made "Barak"-8 air defense missile. This missile has an effective range of only 70 kilometers against the aircraft, and the range of the missile is closer. In fact, if the missile responsible for remote area air defense cannot shoot the incoming missile, then the defense pressure of the medium and short range will be very large. The shortcomings of the Indian Navy are precisely in this place.

India is quite proud of its military strength, and has portrayed the newly-made domestic destroyer P15B as the Indian version of the Chinese "055 destroyer". The P15B Visakhapatnam was improved from the former P15A "Kolkata" class destroyer in India. Most of the data of the P15B is still unclear, but the P15A displacement is only 7,500 tons, compared with 10,000 tons of the Chinese 055. The P15B is equipped with the EL/M-2248 phased array radar from Israel, and the air defense missile is also the Barak-8 air defense missile produced by Israel. According to Indian experts, the destroyer’s strength exceeds that of China’s 052C. But the radar area is only a quarter of the 052C, and the detection distance is only half of the 055C. The 052C Haihongqi-9 has a maximum range of 120-150 kilometers far beyond the "Barak-8". As the main warship of India, P15A has the strength to compete with Chinese Type 052C at most, and the P15B is the Indian version of 052D at best. The handful of ships of this class would be no match for the dozens of Chinese destroyers of equal or greater firepower.