Indian Navy’s third P-15A naval destroyer to be launched today

Mumbai: Taking the Indian Navy's prestigious P-15A destroyer project another step ahead will be the launch today of the third ship of the Kolkota-class. The hull will be launched by Elizabeth Antony, wife of defence minister AK Antony, at the Mazgaon Docks Ltd in Mumbai on 1 April.

The 2nd and 3rd Kolkota-class warships under construction at the MDL

These are the largest warships ever constructed at the Mazgaon Docks, the oldest and the most prolific of all Indian naval dockyards.

The occasion will also be graced by the defence minister as well as the chief of naval staff, Admiral Nirmal Verma, and local dignitaries.

The lead ship INS Kolkota and its sister ship INS Kochi have already been launched. Today's launch should also announce the name of this third ship.

Naval sources had earlier clarified that the Project 15-A, though conceived as a follow-on of the earlier P-15 Delhi class, has incorporated major advances in its weapons and sensors and is technologically far superior.

The Delhi-class destroyers – INS Delhi, INS Mysore and INS Mumbai, were also built at Mazagon Dock and are considered to be frontline ships of the Indian Navy.