P15B stealth guided-missile destroyer

The P-15 B destroyers are also called Bravo class destroyers or Visakhapatnam class destroyers. The Indian Navy received the ship in October 2021. It was built by the Mazgaon Dock Limited, Mumbai.

Contract to build the ship

In 2011, a contract was signed between the Indian Navy and Mazgaon Dock Limited to build four Visakhapatnam class destroyers. The four vessels were Mormugao, Visakhapatnam, Porbandar and Imphal. This was a follow-on project of Kolkata class destroyers (Project-15A). This is the first ship being delivered under the contract.

Development of the ship

The main objective was to retain the hull of Kolkata class destroyers. And then incorporate modifications to the superstructure.

Cost of the ship

The total cost of all the four destroyers in 2011 was Rs 29,340 crores. However, in 2020 the cost was increased to Rs 35,800 crores due to the addition of weapons and sensor packages.

Design of the ship

The ship shares several similarities with the Kolkata class. It has a displacement of 7,400 tonnes. It was designed by the Indian Navy’s Directorate of Naval Design. The Baltic Shipyard of Russia was contracted to provide line shafts for the ship. The line shaft is used for power transmission. The Zorya gas turbines in the ship were sourced from Ukraine. The Larsen and Toubro provided automated power management system, integrated platform management system, main switchboard, local control panels and degaussing system.

Weapons installed in the ship

The major indigenous weapons of India are installed in the ship. They are as follows:

• Medium Range Surface to Air Missiles
• Brahmos Surface-to-Surface missiles manufactured by BrahMos Aerospace, New Delhi
• Anti-submarine indigenous rocket launchers manufactured by Larsen and Toubro, Mumbai
• Torpedo Tube launchers manufactured by Larsen and Toubro, Mumbai
• Super Rapid Gun Mount manufactured by BHEL, Haridwar

Differences between Kolkata class and Visakhapatnam class

The P-15A and P-15B destroyers differ in terms of equipment. The P-15B is armed with 127 mm gun and the P-15A is armed with 76 mm gun. The sonar is relocated from hull (in P-15A) to bow (in P-15B). The P-15 B has a reduced radar cross section. Also, it includes rail-less helicopter traversing system to protect the helicopters during adverse sea conditions. It also holds an automatic power management system, Ship Data Network and a combat management system. These features are not present in P-15A.