INS Kochi (D64) is the second ship of the Template:Sclass stealth guided-missile destroyers built under the code name Project 15A for the Indian Navy. She was constructed by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) in Mumbai. After undergoing extensive sea trials, she was commissioned to Indian Navy service on 30 September 2015.[1][2]
Construction
The keel of Kochi was laid on 25 October 2005. In keeping with the tradition of the Navy, the warship was launched by Madhulika Verma, wife of Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Nirmal Kumar Verma, at 11.20 a.m. 18 September 2009 from the Mazagon Dock in Mumbai.[3] For the first time, Mazagon Docks used a "pontoon assisted" launching method in collaboration with the Russian firm Baltiysky Zavod. Under this method, pontoons are welded to the hull, which give buoyancy and helps overcome tidal constraints. Mazagon plans to use this method for all future ship launches, as the process makes it possible to launch ships with much higher weight.
Weapon trials
On 1 November 2015, the Navy successfully test-fired the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from Kochi. The missile hit its target, a decommissioned ship called INS Alleppey, with almost pinpoint accuracy during this first-ever vertical launch from the 7,500-tonne Kochi.[4]
On 16 May and 29 November 2017, the Navy successfully test fired the Barak 8 missiles from Kochi.[5][6]
Cooperative Engagement Capability through Joint Taskforce Coordination (JTC) mode
On 15 May 2019, INS Chennai along with INS Kochi participated in the maiden cooperative engagement firing through the employment of the full Joint Taskforce Coordination (JTC) mode which implements the MRSAM / Barak 8 ‘Cooperative Engagement’ operating mode.[7][8][9][10]
Design
At the time of its commissioning, INS Kochi was the largest India-made warship.[11] The warship is designed by the Navy's in-house organisation, Directorate of Naval Design. It has displacement of 7,500 tons and it is Template:Convert in length and Template:Convert at the beam and is propelled by four gas turbines and designed to achieve speeds in excess of Template:Convert. The ship has built with advanced stealth features which have been achieved through shaping of hull and use of radar-transparent deck fittings. A bow mounted sonar dome, the second of its kind in an indigenous naval platform, has been introduced to enhance sonar acoustic performance. The ship has a complement of about 40 officers and 350 sailors.[2]
Naval exercises
INS Kochi participated in the 'Zayed Talwar 2021' bilateral exercise with the United Arab Emirates Navy's Baynunah-class guided missile corvette UAES Al-Dhafra on 7 August 2021, off the coast of Abu Dhabi. The ships undertook tactical manoeuvres, Over the Horizon Targeting, Search and Rescue and Electronic Warfare exercises, with extensive use of helicopters.[12][13] Less than a week later, Kochi arrived at Al Jubail for the Indian Navy's maiden naval exercise with the Royal Saudi Navy, 'Al-Mohed Al-Hindi'. The drill was meant for deeper understanding of each other’s operational practices.[14][15][16]
See also
- Template:INS - Sister ship and first of the class.
- Template:INS - Sister ship and third of the class.
References
- ↑ INS Kochi stealth guided missile destroyer commissioned. The Economic Times(30 September 2015). Retrieved 30 September 2015.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 INS Kochi | Indian Navy. www.indiannavy.nic.in. Retrieved 2016-04-24.
- ↑ India launches warship 'INS Kochi'. The Times of India(18 September 2009). Retrieved 2009-09-18.
- ↑ BrahMos missile tested successfully from latest stealth destroyer INS Kochi. PTI(1 November 2015). Retrieved 1 November 2015.
- ↑ Indian Navy conducts successful MRSAM firing from INS Kochi - Mysuru Today. Mysuru Today(2017-11-29). Retrieved 2017-11-29.
- ↑ Navy successfully test fires MR-SAM from INS Kochi. www.oneindia.com. Retrieved 2017-11-29.
- ↑ Press Information Bureau.
- ↑ Indian Navy Demonstrates 'MRSAM 'Cooperative Engagement' Capability(17 May 2019).
- ↑ Indian Navy completes MRSAM first cooperative engagement firing test(20 May 2019).
- ↑ Janes | Latest defence and security news.
- ↑ INS Kochi: 10 things to know(30 September 2015). Retrieved 7 October 2015.
- ↑ Indian Navy - United Arab Emirates Navy Bilateral Exercise "Zayed Talwar 2021", Press Release. Indian Navy(8 August 2021). Retrieved 21 August 2021.
- ↑ India, UAE carry out naval exercise; deepen military cooperation. Hindustan Times(8 August 2021). Retrieved 21 August 2021.
- ↑ Maiden Al-Mohed Al-Hindi Exercise set to begin between Indian Navy and Saudi Arabia Navy, Press Release. Indian Navy(12 August 2021). Retrieved 21 August 2021.
- ↑ India boosts Gulf ties with Saudi drill. The Times of India(13 August 2021). Retrieved 21 August 2021.
- ↑ India Must Partner with Saudi Arabia to Deal with Afghanistan Crisis. The Quint(21 August 2021). Retrieved 21 August 2021.