Navy's Next Destroyer Line Christened Visakhapatnam-class, 1st Launch Next Week

The first Project 15 Bravo (P15B) stealth destroyer, under construction at the Mazagon Dock shipyard in Mumbai will be launched on April 20. Livefist can confirm that the new warship line has a name: Visakhapatnam-class, after the Navy's eastern hub. The navy is aiming to induct the ship in 2018. A total of four ships are to be built in the class, with the official timeline of deliveries starting 2018, and then a ship every two years till 2024. The Visakhapatnam's keel was laid in October 2013. Construction and fabrication of the second vessel of the class began in July last year.

The Visakhapatnam-class maintains the same hull and propulsion package as the Project 15A Kolkata-class. Russia's Northern Design Bureau, enlisted as a design consultant has helped reduce the size of the design's superstructure.

Meanwhile, the second P15A destroyer Kochi will be commissioned shortly into the Indian Navy.

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