Manohar Parrikar commissions INS Kochi warship, says focus is on indigenisation

Mumbai: Naval warship INS Kochi, a stealth guided missile destroyer, was commissioned on Wednesday by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who said the navy has chalked out an indigenisation plan for the next 15 years.

"The navy has chalked out an indigination plan for the next 15 years. There is renewed enthusiasm in the defence production units, PSUs and private sector," he told reporters on board the warship at Naval Dockyard. "We will develop a real blue-water navy which will dominate the Indian Ocean region," Parrikar said, adding, "We still lack in fire power."

The minister also spoke of a 'mixed success' on the missile system technology front. "In the next 5 years there will be indiginisation to a large extent in missile technology," he said.

The finish of the INS Kochi is as "good as any foreign (naval) ship", he said, lauding those who built it. INS Kochi is the second ship of the Kolkata-class (Project 15A) guided missile destroyers. The contract for three ships of Kolkata class was signed as a follow-on of the legendary Delhi-class destroyers, which were commissioned into the navy more than a decade ago.

Designed by the navy's in-house organisation, Directorate of Naval Design, and constructed by Mazagon Dock Ship Builders Ltd in Mumbai, the ship is christened after the vibrant port city of Kochi. Although conceived as follow-on of the earlier Delhi class, this ship is vastly superior and has major advancements in weapons and sensors. The ship incorporates new design concepts for improved survivability, stealth, sea-keeping and manoeuvrability.

With a displacement of 7,500 tons, the majestic ship spanning 164 metres in length and 17 metres at the beam, is propelled by four gas turbines and designed to achieve speeds in excess of 30 knots. The ship has a complement of about 40 officers and 350 sailors. The accommodation and living spaces have been designed with special emphasis on ergonomics and habitability.

Enhanced stealth features 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, according to a navy spokesperson.

To a question on shortage of naval helicopters, Parrikar said, "We are around 35-40 per cent of overall indigenization target. The rest of the things are partly or fully imported. "In case where quantity is less, it is not feasible to make the things. The target of 70 per cent indigenisation over a period of next five to six years is a reasonable target," he said.

INS Kochi is packed with an array of sophisticated weapons and sensors, with a significant indigenous component. The ship has many lethal weapons to her credit which include the successful fitment of vertically launched missile system for long distance engagement of shore and sea-based targets. The vessel is one of the few warships in the world and the second in the Indian Navy to have multi-function surveillance and threat alert radar to provide target data to long-range surface-to-air missile system.

The MF STAR and LR SAM systems are jointly developed by DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) and Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. To protect against incoming air borne and surface threats, at medium and close in range, the ship has 76 mm and 30 mm gun mounts. The ship can be classified as a 'network of networks' as it is equipped with ship data network (SDN), combat management system (CMS), automatic power management system (APMS) and auxiliary control system (ACS).

Referring to technical aspects in warship manufacture, Parrikar said, "While we have achieved significant indigenisation in 'float' component of warships, we are lacking in the indigenisation of the high-end 'fight' (weapon) components. "To that end, the government is in the process of putting a policy in place to achieve high amount of self-reliance in the defence industry under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi."

He said the government is seized of the nation's defence requirements and requisite financial support for the armed forces and defence industry will be made available, which includes the modernisation and development plans of the navy.

The government shall always remain committed to providing the necessary funds for the future expansion and growth of the navy, he said. Parrikar said the government is fully committed to developing a real blue-water navy, a force which can dominate the Indian Ocean region, but will be considered friendly by the neighbouring countries. He gave two examples to illustrate his point -- that of transporting drinking water to the Maldives when the latter's water treatment plant had a problem last year, and the rescue and evacuation of nationals of over 20 countries from war-torn Yemen by the Indian Navy, without any damage to naval platforms and personnel.

Parrikar said there has been a renewed enthusiasm among Defence PSUs and the private sector in the development and production of platforms and systems for the defence forces and the government has been consistently trying to indigenise and speed-up timely deliveries. He hoped that the next destroyer ship in the series will be operational by the end of the current financial year. To a query, Parrikar said there have been no delays as far as defence procurement procedure is concerned. "We are working on various suggestions. In the next two or three months, we should be able to release the full and amended Defence Procurement Procedure, 2015," he said.

The commissioning ceremony was attended, among others, by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R K Dhowan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, Vice Admiral S P S Cheema and Chairman and Managing Director of Mazagon Docks Limited, Rear Admiral R K Shrawat (Retd). Admiral Dhowan said that commissioning of INS Kochi is a milestone in the self-reliance programme of the navy and noted that the indigenisation of platforms, weapons, sensors and equipment, through public as well as private sectors, will continue to remain a focus area of the Indian Navy.

He emphasised that the roadmap for the navy's expansion and growth would continue to remain firmly anchored on self-reliance and indigenisation. "Induction of INS Kochi with her multi-dimensional combat capability adds more teeth to the sword arm of the Indian Navy in discharging her duties of safe-guarding national maritime interests. This further reaffirms our resolve and faith in indigenous ship building and 'Make in India' programme," he said.

The Commanding Officer, Captain Gurcharan Singh, read out the Commissioning Warrant, prior to the hoisting of 'Colours' (the national flag and naval ensign) for the first time onboard the ship. Following her commissioning, INS Kochi will be based at Mumbai, under the operational and administrative control of the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command.