INS Surat and Frigate INS Udaygiri

INS Surat and Frigate INS Udaygiri

News: Recently, the Defence Minister launched the Indian Navy destroyer warship INS Surat and frigate INS Udaygiri in Mumbai.

About:
• ‘Surat’ is the fourth ship of Project 15B Destroyers which heralds a significant makeover of the P15A (Kolkata Class) Destroyers.
• INS Udaygiri is the third ship of Project 17A Frigates. The ship is named after a mountain range in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

Project 15B:
• The ships are amongst the most technologically advanced Guided Missile Destroyers of the world, with state-of-the-art weapon/sensor package, advanced stealth features and a high degree of automation.
• In 2011, the deal to build four warships – Vishakhapatnam, Mormugao, Imphal and Surat was signed under Project-15B programme.
• The P-15B ships are equipped with Brahmos supersonic cruise missiles and long-range Surface to Air missiles.

Project 17A Frigates:
• Project 17A frigates are follow-on of the P17 Frigates (Shivalik Class) with improved stealth features, advanced weapons and sensors and platform management systems.
• Important features of P-17A include ship’s low acoustic noise emanating from propellers, operating machinery like diesel generators.
• Main advanced stealth features pertain to the smaller radar cross-section of the ship achieved through the use of a special super structure shape which reduces radar wave reflections.