Mumbai:Â “INS Kolkata is an example of intellect prowess of Indian engineers, technicians and security experts,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi after inducting India’s largest indigenously built warship INS Kolkata in Mumbai. Modi extended his heartiest congratulations to everyone associated with the project.
Calling it a symbol of self-reliance, Modi said, “It will give a global message. Nobody will dare to challenge India. The maritime security is critical to global trade and commerceâ€.
Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R K Dhowan were also present at the ceremony.
The Prime Minister highlighted that his government has taken important steps to improve indigenous Defence technology. “In the Budget we have taken several steps for Defence offsets. We dream to make India strong to export defence equipment to the world,” he said.
The warship has been constructed by the Mazagon Dockyards Limited and has been designed by Navy’s design bureau. The 6,800 tonne warship, which is over three years behind schedule, is a technology demonstrator and will showcase a giant leap in shipbuilding technology in the country.
INS Kolkata will be a part of the Kolkata Class destroyers of the Indian Navy which will include follow-on ships by the name of INS Kochi and INS Chennai respectively.
The keel of the warship was laid down in September 2003 and the ship was launched in 2006. The ship had also suffered a mishap during the trial phase when a Navy officer lost his life during an incident in the fire-fighting equipment of the vessel.
As part of her pre-commissioning weapon trials at sea, INS Kolkata test-fired a BrahMos missile off Karwar’s coast last month.
India is also building an over 40,000 tonne Indigenous Aircraft Carrier christened INS Vikrant but it will take another three-four years before it gets inducted into the Navy.