INS Mormugao Commissioned into The Indian Navy
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Indian Naval Ship (INS) Mormugao (D67), a second warship of the P15B class of stealth guided-missile destroyers, was commissioned in the august presence of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai on December 18, 2022. The event marked the formal induction of the second of the four โVisakhapatnamโ class destroyers, indigenously designed by the Indian Navyโs in-house organisation Warship Design Bureau and constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai.
โShining example of โAatmanirbhartaโ in defenceโ
In his address, the Raksha Mantri described INS Mormugao as one of the most powerful indigenously-built warships which will significantly enhance the countryโs maritime capabilities and secure national interests. โINS Mormugao is one of the worldโs most technologically-advanced missile carriers. With over 75% indigenous content, it is a testimony to Indiaโs excellence in design and development of warships and a shining example of our growing indigenous defence production capabilities. The warship will meet the present and future needs of our country as well as of our friendly countries across the globe,โ he said.
โNavy securing maritime interests & contributing to socio-economic progressโ
Shri Rajnath Singh commended the Indian Navy and MDL for the commissioning of INS Mormugao, describing it as the result of the hard work, dedication and aspirations of the engineers, technicians, designers and scientists. It is a matter of great pride for India, he said. The Raksha Mantri extended congratulations to the Indian Navy on behalf of the entire nation for not only safeguarding maritime interests, but also contributing significantly to the socio-economic progress.
The Raksha Mantri described safeguarding Indiaโs interests in the Indian Ocean Region as the prime responsibility of the Navy. โOur growing economy is directly connected to the increasing trade, most of which is through sea routes. Our interest is directly linked to the Indian Ocean. Being an important country in this region, the role of Indian Navy becomes more important in its security. It is heartening to see that they are discharging their duties successfully,โ he said.
โArmed Forces – backbone of Indiaโs unprecedented growthโ
Shri Rajnath Singh lauded the Armed Forces for protecting the borders and coasts with unmatched courage and dedication, terming them as the backbone of Indiaโs unprecedented growth. โIndia is touching newer heights of success every day. We are now among the top five economies of the world. According to a report by investment firm Morgan Stanley, we will be among the top three economies in the next five years. Indiaโs handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has been appreciated by the world. Our G-20 presidency is another landmark achievement. This has been successful due to the aspirations, hard work and determination of every Indian. But, the most important reason behind our success is our secure borders and coasts. It is due to the readiness and promptness of our Armed Forces that we have a fool-proof security apparatus,โ he said.
โBolstering security apparatus is our top priorityโ
The Raksha Mantri reiterated the Governmentโs resolve to prepare the nation to deal with any situation arising due to the rapidly changing global scenario. He said, it is the Governmentโs top priority to continue strengthening the security infrastructure by equipping the military with state-of-the-art indigenous weapons/equipment.
โEconomic, political and trade relations between countries are constantly evolving. The Covid-19 pandemic, situation in the middle east, Afghanistan and now Ukraine. It directly or indirectly impacts every country in one way or another. In this era of globalisation, almost all nations are dependent on each other in the field of trade. Hence, rule-based freedom of navigation, security of sea lanes etc. have become more important than ever for stability and economic progress of the world,โ he stated.
โAim is to make India an indigenous shipbuilding hubโ
Shri Rajnath Singh also praised MDL for growing in stature by continuously building new ships with state-of-the-art technologies. He urged them and other shipbuilding companies to enhance their capabilities by taking advantage of the Governmentโs initiatives and move forward towards making India an indigenous shipbuilding hub.
โCountries around the world are today moving towards modernising and strengthening their military power due to the global security scenario. The demand for military equipment is continuously increasing. We have introduced a number of policies which will help our public or private sector companies to become world class players. You all must take advantage of these policies and strive to cater to the needs of our Navy & Coast Guard, while meeting international requirements. We will extend all possible support to realise Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiโs vision of โMake in India, Make for the Worldโ,โ he said.
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โINS Mormugao – Indiaโs giant leap in warship building capabilitiesโ
Speaking on the occasion, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar stated that the commissioning of INS Mormugao is indicative of the large strides India has taken in warship design and building capability over the last decade. He added that the warship is a true illustration of โAatmanirbhar Bharatโ and โMake in Indiaโ initiative and it reinforces the Navyโs commitment to supporting India’s transformation into a global ship-building hub. The warship, with her multi-dimensional combat capability, will form part of the Western Fleet – the sword arm of the Indian Navy, he said.
Admiral R Hari Kumar complimented the Commanding Officer and his team of officers and sailors for their sustained efforts and perseverance during the trials and acceptance of the warship. He urged them to move forward with the same momentum and prepare for future operational deployments. He also commended MDL for playing a significant role in the transition from a โBuyers Navy to a Builders Navyโ.
About INS Mormugao
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Stealth, firepower & manoeuvrability with indigenous content
- Measuring 163m in length and 17m in breadth with a displacement of 7,400 tonnes, INS Mormugao is packed with sophisticated state-of-the-art weapons and sensors such as Surface-to-Surface Missile and Surface-to-Air Missiles. The ship is fitted with a modern Surveillance Radar which provides target data to the gunnery weapon systems. Its Anti-Submarine Warfare capabilities are provided by the indigenously-developed Rocket Launchers, Torpedo Launchers and the ASW helicopters.
- Named after the historic port city of Goa on the west coast, the ship is equipped to fight under Nuclear, Biological and Chemical warfare conditions. It is propelled by four powerful Gas Turbines, in a Combined Gas and Gas configuration, capable of achieving speeds in excess of 30 knots. The ship has enhanced stealth features resulting in a reduced Radar Cross Section. INS Mormugao has a complement of about 300 personnel.
- With over 75% indigenous content, all her major weapons and sensors have been developed and manufactured in India either directly through design and development by Indian Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) or through strategic tie-ups and Transfer of Technology with reputed foreign OEMs.
P15B destroyers
P15B destroyers incorporate new design concepts for improved survivability, seakeeping and manoeuvrability. Enhanced stealth has also been achieved, making the ships difficult to detect. With a significantly increased indigenous content, P15B destroyers are a hallmark of self-reliance in warship design and building and a shining example of โAatmanirbhar Bharatโ.
Vision & aim
With power dynamics in the Indian Ocean Region constantly changing, the ship’s all-domain capability will augment the Indian Navyโs mobility, reach and flexibility to accomplish any mission or task. Induction of the ship into the Navy also reflects Indiaโs growing ability to remain First Responder and Preferred Security Partner in the region.