Naval Systems

INS Chennai

Also known as
  • INS Chennai (D65)
  • D65
  • P 15A
  • Project 15A
  • Kolkata-class destroyer

INS Chennai is an Indian Navy Kolkata-class Project 15A stealth guided-missile destroyer built by Mazagon Dock Limited in Mumbai and commissioned in 2016. The ship combines BrahMos strike missiles, surface-to-air missiles, surveillance radar, torpedo and rocket launchers, and documented Op Sankalp maritime-security service, including the January 2024 MV Lila Norfolk response.

INS Chennai, Indian Navy stealth guided-missile destroyer, Naval Systems
Image source: INS Chennai (D65) at sea | Wikimedia Commons

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
India
Type
Indian Navy stealth guided-missile destroyer
Service note
2016-present
Designer
Indian Navy Directorate of Naval Design
Designed
Project 15A

Specifications

Class
Kolkata-class / Project 15A
Displacement
About 7,500 tonnes
Length
163 m
Beam
17.4 m
Speed
Over 30 knots
Crew
About 45 officers and 395 personnel
Propulsion
COGAG with four gas turbines
Armament
Surface-to-surface missiles, surface-to-air missiles, a 76 mm gun, close-in weapon systems, torpedo launchers, and anti-submarine rocket launchers
Stealth features
Reduced radar cross-section through hull shaping, full-beam superstructure design, plated masts, and radar-transparent materials
Ship Systems And Mission Role

INS Chennai is useful as both a combatant and a maritime-security platform: its Project 15A fit gives the ship layered strike, air-defense, surveillance, and anti-submarine tools, while Op Sankalp reporting shows the same hull used for presence, reconnaissance support, boarding response, and escort.

Combat fit

PIB identifies surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, surveillance radar, torpedo launchers, and anti-submarine rocket launchers among the ship's major systems.

Strike link

BrahMos Aerospace reported an October 2020 BrahMos launch from INS Chennai against an Arabian Sea target.

Maritime-security role

In January 2024, PIB said INS Chennai reached MV Lila Norfolk, supported reconnaissance and boarding activity, and escorted the vessel after the crew was rescued.

Ship-Launched Missiles

BrahMos Aerospace reported a successful BrahMos sea test from INS Chennai against an Arabian Sea target.

Launched itemItem typeLaunch evidence
BrahMos, Supersonic anti-ship and land-attack cruise missile, MunitionsBrahMosSupersonic cruise missile

BrahMos Aerospace reported that a BrahMos missile was test-fired from INS Chennai on October 18, 2020 and hit a target in the Arabian Sea.

Sources: INS Chennai BrahMos Test Fire | BrahMos Aerospace

Barak-8, Medium- to long-range surface-to-air missile system, Air DefenseBarak-8Medium-range surface-to-air missile system

PIB reported a cooperative MRSAM firing trial by INS Kochi and INS Chennai and said these surface-to-air missiles are fitted on Kolkata-class destroyers.

Sources: MRSAM Firing Trials | PIB

Anti-Submarine Launchers

INS Chennai's anti-submarine fit includes shipboard rocket and torpedo launchers.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
RBU-6000 Smerch-2 anti-submarine rocket launcher, Shipboard anti-submarine rocket launcher, Naval SystemsRBU-6000 Smerch-2 anti-submarine rocket launcherShipboard anti-submarine rocket launcher

PIB identifies anti-submarine rocket launchers in INS Chennai's fit, and a Government of India/Indian Navy image on Commons identifies the ship launching an RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket.

Sources: INS Chennai Joins the Indian Navy | PIB, INS Chennai RBU-6000 Image | Wikimedia Commons

Timeline

INS Chennai Key Events

  1. Commissioned into the Indian Navy

    PIB described INS Chennai as the third and last Project 15A Kolkata-class destroyer, designed by the Directorate of Naval Design and built by Mazagon Dock Limited in Mumbai.

    Sources: INS Chennai Joins the Indian Navy | PIB

  2. Named for Op Sankalp deployment

    PIB said INS Chennai and INS Sunayna deployed to the Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf for Op Sankalp maritime-security operations.

    Sources: Indian Navy Executes Op Sankalp | PIB

  3. BrahMos sea test from INS Chennai

    BrahMos Aerospace reported a BrahMos missile test from INS Chennai against an Arabian Sea target.

    Sources: INS Chennai BrahMos Test Fire | BrahMos Aerospace

  4. MV Lila Norfolk response

    PIB reported that INS Chennai arrived at the hijacking scene, supported reconnaissance and MARCOS boarding, and escorted MV Lila Norfolk after the crew was rescued.

    Sources: MV Lila Norfolk Response | PIB

Media

INS Chennai Videos

INS Chennai Images

INS Chennai, Indian Navy stealth guided-missile destroyer, Naval Systems - view 1
Source: INS Chennai during its commissioning | Wikimedia Commons
INS Chennai, Indian Navy stealth guided-missile destroyer, Naval Systems - view 2
Source: BrahMos fired from INS Chennai during TROPEX 2017 | Wikimedia Commons
INS Chennai, Indian Navy stealth guided-missile destroyer, Naval Systems - view 3
Source: INS Chennai RBU-6000 Image | Wikimedia Commons
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Sources

INS Chennai Joins the Indian Navy | PIBPublisher: Press Information Bureau, Government of India | Note: Supports INS Chennai's commissioning, Kolkata-class Project 15A designation, construction by Mazagon Dock Limited, Mumbai, design background, dimensions, propulsion, crew, and weapons fit. | Accessed: 2026-07-01INS Chennai BrahMos Test Fire | BrahMos AerospacePublisher: BrahMos Aerospace | Note: Supports direct relationship background: BrahMos was successfully test-fired from INS Chennai against an Arabian Sea target. | Accessed: 2026-07-01MRSAM Firing Trials | PIBPublisher: Press Information Bureau, Government of India | Note: Supports the INS Chennai and INS Kochi MRSAM firing trial and the Kolkata-class surface-to-air missile fit. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Indian Navy Executes Op Sankalp | PIBPublisher: Press Information Bureau, Government of India | Note: Supports 2019 Operation Sankalp direct use: INS Chennai was deployed to the Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf for maritime-security operations under Op Sankalp. | Accessed: 2026-07-01MV Lila Norfolk Response | PIBPublisher: Press Information Bureau, Government of India | Note: Supports 2019 Operation Sankalp direct use: INS Chennai responded to the MV Lila Norfolk hijacking attempt, supported reconnaissance and boarding activity, and escorted the vessel after rescue. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Op Sankalp 100 Days | PIBPublisher: Press Information Bureau, Government of India | Note: Supports 2019 Operation Sankalp background context for the expanded December 2023 to March 2024 operating areas, ship days, incident response, and boarding operations. | Accessed: 2026-07-01INS Chennai (D65) at sea | Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing context for the primary gallery image of INS Chennai at sea. | Accessed: 2026-07-01INS Chennai during its commissioning | Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing context for the commissioning photo of INS Chennai. | Accessed: 2026-07-01BrahMos fired from INS Chennai during TROPEX 2017 | Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing context for the BrahMos firing photo showing INS Chennai at sea. | Accessed: 2026-07-01INS Chennai RBU-6000 Image | Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing context for the Government of India/Indian Navy image identifying INS Chennai launching an RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket. | Accessed: 2026-07-01