INS VISHAKHAPATNAM (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: Indian Navy's guided missile destroyer, INS Visakhapatnam, deployed in the Gulf of Aden, responded to a distress call from MV Marlin Luanda.

INS Visakhapatnam

• About: Commissioned on November 21, 2021, it is the flagship and first in the Indian Navy's Visakhapatnam-class stealth guided-missile destroyers.
• Symbol: Make in India initiative towards achieving 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'.
• Size: Measures 163m in length, 17m in breadth.
• Displacement: Weighs 7,400 tonnes, making it one of the largest destroyers in the Indian Navy.
• Propulsion: Driven by four robust Gas Turbines in a Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) configuration.
• Speed: Capable of achieving speeds exceeding 30 knots.
• Stealth Features: Reduced Radar Cross Section (RCS) through efficient hull shaping, full beam superstructure design, plated masts, and use of radar-transparent materials on exposed decks.
• NBC Warfare Capabilities: Prepared for Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) warfare conditions.