Project 15B (P15B) is the second-generation follow-up to the Kolkata-class (Project 15A) destroyers. Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), these four ships—Visakhapatnam, Mormugao, Imphal, and Surat—are designed for high-seas operations and long-range engagement.
Lethal Firepower
The Visakhapatnam-class is armed with a sophisticated array of weaponry, making it one of the most heavily armed surface combatants in the world.
- BrahMos Missiles: Equipped with two 8-cell vertical launch systems (VLS) for the supersonic BrahMos cruise missiles.
- Barak-8 SAM: For long-range air defense, it carries 32 Barak-8 missiles.
- Main Gun: A 76mm super rapid gun mount (SRGM) for surface and air targets.
- Torpedos & ASW: Twin tube torpedo launchers and RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers.
Advanced Sensors (The MF-STAR Radar)
The heart of the ship's combat capability is the EL/M-2248 MF-STAR S-band multi-function active phased array radar. It provides 360-degree coverage and can track hundreds of air and surface targets simultaneously at ranges exceeding 250km.
The 15B Fleet Status
Stealth Redefined
The P15B ships feature an improved stealth design compared to their predecessors. The superstructure has been reshaped to reduce the Radar Cross Section (RCS), and use of radar-absorbent paint further enhances its ability to remain undetected by enemy sensors.