INS Delhi (D61)

This article is about the modern destroyer INS Delhi (D61) variant; see INS Delhi for its namesake predecessors.

INS Delhi
History
NameDelhi
NamesakeDelhi
OwnerIndian Navy
OperatorIndian Navy
Ordered20 March 1992
BuilderMazagon Dock Limited, India
Laid down12 December 1992
Launched20 March 1995
Commissioned15 November 1997
HomeportVisakhapatnam
IdentificationPennant number: D61
Statusin active service
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeDelhi-class guided-missile destroyer
Displacement6,200 tonnes (full)[1]
Length163 m (535 ft) [1]
Beam17 m (56 ft)[1]
Draught6.5 m (21 ft)[1]
Propulsion
Speed32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph)[2]
Range4,500 mi (7,200 km) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)[2]
Complement350 (incl 40 officers)[1]
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Fregat M2EM E-band air & surface search radar(300 Km) Replaced from MR-755 MAE.
  • BEL RAWL (Signaal LW08) D-band air search radar
  • 3 × MR-212/201 I-band navigation radars
  • 6 × MR-90 Orekh G-band fire-control radars (FCR)
  • BEL Lynx U2 FCR Replaced from MR-184 I/J-band
  • 2 × EL/M-2221 FCR for Barak 1
  • BEL HUMVAD hull-mounted sonar[2]
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Armament
Aircraft carried2 × Sea King Mk 42B helicopters[2]

INS Delhi is the lead ship of her class of guided-missile destroyers of the Indian Navy. She was built at the Mazagon Dock Limited in Mumbai and commissioned on 15 November 1997. This class is among the largest warships to be designed and built in India.

As of December 2021, Delhi was transferred to the Eastern Naval Command to replace the ageing Rajput-class destroyers and form the future Carrier Battle Group of INS Vikrant.

The ship completed its mid life upgrade in early 2022 and was back in service by April of the same year. She was back with new sensor upgrades and new 'Modular Launcher' for Brahmos Missile as a replacement for Kh 35E.[4][5]

Delhi is the second vessel of the Indian Navy to bear the name. She inherits the mantle from the Leander-class cruiser of the same name, previously HMS Achilles of Battle of the River Plate fame.

Service history

During May–July 2009, INS Delhi led the Indian Navy task force on deployment to Europe. During this deployment, the task force participated in joint-exercises with the Royal Navy and the French Navy. Exercise Konkan-09 with the Royal Navy, was conducted off the coast of the United Kingdom.[6] Exercise Varuna 2009 with the French Navy was off the coast of France.[7]

As of 2020, Delhi was undergoing a mid-life refit that includes upgrades for several weapons and sensors. The Kh-35E Uran missiles has been replaced by BrahMos missiles, which was originally sanctioned in 2015. The Shtil-1 air defence system will replace the 9K-90 Uragan, with Fregat M2EM radar replacing the Fregat-MAE. The Kite Screech fire control system of the AK-100 is being replaced by BEL Lynx U2. The electronics warfare system will be upgraded to Ellora Mk II, with Kavach decoy launchers.[8][9] Atlas Elektronik ACTAS towed-array sonar will also be installed.[10] The BrahMos integration was validated with a test firing on 19 April 2022.[11]

In May 2024, INS Delhi along with INS Shakti (A57) and INS Kiltan (P30) was a part of the three-ship flotilla led by Rear admiral Rajesh Dhankar, the FOCEF. On 6 May 2024, the flotilla reached Singapore for a three day visit as a part of operational deployment of the Navy's Eastern Fleet to the South China Sea. The flotilla will then proceed to Malaysia and Philippines, respectively.[12][13][14] On 12 May, INS Delhi and INS Shakti reached Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia and will later participate in the Maritime Partnership Exercise with the Royal Malaysian Navy.[15] On 20 May, INS Delhi, INS Kiltan and INS Shakti arrived at Manila, Philippines under the command of Rear Admiral Rajesh Dhankar. During the visit, the navies will take part in an exercise and other activities like "subject expert matter exchange, cross deck visits, cultural visits, collaborative community outreach programmes."[16] On 23 May, the flotilla completed its visit to Philippines which was a part of the Operational Deployment of the Eastern fleet to the South China Sea.[17][18]

The ship participated in Exercise Malabar 2024 which was held from 8 to 18 October.[19]

INS Delhi took part in the Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) with the German Navy's Frigate Baden-Württemberg and Tanker Frankfurt am Main from 21 to 23 October 2024 in the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean.[20]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to INS Delhi (D61).
  1. ^ a b c d e "IN Ships-Destroyers-Delhi Class". Indian Navy. Archived from the original on 27 January 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Commodore Stephen Saunders, ed. (2004). "India". Jane's Fighting Ships 2004-2005 (107th ed.). Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group. p. 308. ISBN 978-0710626233.
  3. ^ Commodore Stephen Saunders, ed. (2008). "India". Jane's Fighting Ships 2008-2009 (111th ed.). Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group. p. 324. ISBN 978-0710628459.
  4. ^ "BrahMos missile successfully tested from Navy's INS Delhi, IAF's Sukhoi-30 MKI". The Indian Express. 20 April 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  5. ^ "Watch: Successful maiden BrahMos firing by INS Delhi from an upgraded modular launcher". The Economic Times. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  6. ^ "KONKAN 2009". Indiannavy.nic.in. 12 June 2009. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
  7. ^ "Varuna 2009". Indiannavy.nic.in. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
  8. ^ Mazumdar, Mrityunjoy (29 April 2020). "Details emerge on INS Mumbai upgrade". Shephard. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  9. ^ "Nod to new aircraft carrier, BrahMos missiles for six ships". Business Standard. IANS. 13 May 2015.
  10. ^ Shukla, Ajai (25 November 2014). "Sonar contract provides major boost to navy". Business Standard. New Delhi.
  11. ^ Negi, Manjeet (19 April 2022). "Indian Navy successfully test fires BrahMos missile from INS Delhi". India Today.
  12. ^ "INDIAN NAVAL SHIPS DELHI, SHAKTI, AND KILTAN ARRIVED AT SINGAPORE, AS A PART OF EASTERN FLEET DEPLOYMENT TO SOUTH CHINA SEA". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  13. ^ "3 Indian Naval ships arrive in Singapore for operational deployment to South China Sea". The Times of India. 7 May 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  14. ^ "Three Indian Navy ships visit Singapore as part of South China Sea deployment". The Economic Times. 7 May 2024. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  15. ^ "VISIT OF INDIAN NAVAL SHIPS TO KOTA KINABALU, MALAYSIA". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  16. ^ "Indian warships reach Manila as part of deployment to South China Sea". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  17. ^ "INDIAN NAVAL SHIPS DELHI, SHAKTI, AND KILTAN COMPLETED THEIR VISIT TO MANILA, PHILIPPINES AS A PART OF THE OPERATIONAL DEPLOYMENT OF THE EASTERN FLEET TO THE SOUTH CHINA SEA". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  18. ^ "Indian Navy warships complete Manila visit as part of operational deployment to South China Sea". 23 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  19. ^ "CLOSING CEREMONY OF MALABAR 2024". Press Information Bureau. 18 October 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  20. ^ "MARITIME PARTNERSHIP EXERCISE (MPX) WITH GERMAN NAVY (21-23 OCT 24)". Press Information Bureau. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.