Kolkata-class destroyers were used by the Indian Navy in Op Sankalp maritime-security operations: INS Chennai deployed for the original 2019 Gulf-region operation, while INS Kolkata later assisted missile-hit merchant vessels in the Gulf of Aden and intercepted MV Ruen, forcing the surrender of 35 Somali pirates and freeing the crew.
Naval Systems
Kolkata-class destroyer
Also known as
- Project 15A
- Project 15 Alpha
- P-15A
- Kolkata class
- Kolkata-class
- Kolkata-class destroyer
The Kolkata-class destroyer is India's Project 15A stealth guided-missile destroyer class, designed by the Indian Navy and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders. INS Kolkata, INS Kochi, and INS Chennai entered service from 2014 to 2016 with BrahMos strike missiles, Barak-8/MRSAM air defense, anti-submarine weapons, and documented Op Sankalp maritime-security service through named class members.
Role in Conflicts
Profile / Specs
Profile
- Origin
- India
- Type
- Stealth guided-missile destroyer class
- Service note
- 2014-present
- Designer
- Directorate of Naval Design
- Designed
- Project approved by 2000; lead ship keel laid 26 September 2003
- Unit cost
- Rs 3,800 crore (US$950 million) per ship
- Produced
- 2003-2016
- Number built
- 3
Specifications
- Displacement
- About 7,400-7,500 tons full load
- Length
- 163-163.95 m
- Beam
- 17.4-17.71 m
- Draught
- 6.5 m
- Speed
- 30 knots or more
- Complement
- 300
- Propulsion
- Combined gas-and-gas propulsion with four gas turbines
- Strike missiles
- 16 BrahMos surface-to-surface missiles
- Air-defense missiles
- 32 Barak-8/MRSAM surface-to-air missiles
- Anti-submarine fit
- Torpedo launchers and RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers
- Guns and close defense
- 76 mm medium-range gun and AK-630 close-in weapon systems
- Mission domains
- Surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and anti-air warfare
Ship-Launched Missiles
Official and manufacturer reporting documents Kolkata-class ships with Barak-8/MRSAM air-defense missiles and BrahMos strike missiles.
| Launched item | Item type | Launch evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Surface-to-air missile system | PIB says MRSAM surface-to-air missiles are fitted onboard Kolkata-class destroyers, and documents INS Kochi and INS Chennai conducting a cooperative MRSAM engagement trial. Sources: MRSAM Firing Trials | PIB |
 | Supersonic cruise missile | BrahMos Aerospace reported successful BrahMos firings from both INS Kolkata, the lead Project 15A ship, and INS Chennai, a later Kolkata-class ship. Sources: INS Kolkata BrahMos Test Fire | BrahMos Aerospace, INS Chennai BrahMos Test Fire | BrahMos Aerospace |
Anti-Submarine Weapons
The class fit includes shipboard anti-submarine launchers in addition to its missile armament.
| Carried item | Item type | Carriage evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Shipboard anti-submarine rocket launcher | MDL lists anti-submarine rocket launchers in the Kolkata-class weapon and sensor suite, and WeaponSystems.net identifies the class fit as two RBU-6000 Smerch-2 launchers. Sources: Destroyer Projects | Mazagon Dock, Kolkata class | WeaponSystems.net |
Documented Class Member
A separate ship-level record covers INS Chennai where sources support ship-specific operational use and media.
| Compatible item | Item type | Compatibility evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Kolkata-class destroyer | PIB identifies INS Chennai as the third and final Kolkata-class Project 15A destroyer, and separate Op Sankalp reporting documents its maritime-security deployment. Sources: INS Chennai Joins the Indian Navy | PIB, Indian Navy Executes Op Sankalp | PIB |
Combat System Focus
Air defense
The class is documented with Barak-8/MRSAM missiles, including a 2019 cooperative engagement firing by INS Kochi and INS Chennai.
Strike role
BrahMos gives Kolkata-class ships a supersonic anti-ship and land-attack missile fit; INS Kolkata and INS Chennai have both been reported in BrahMos firing events.
Undersea defense
MDL describes the class weapon suite with anti-submarine rocket launchers and torpedo launchers for the anti-submarine mission domain.
Timeline
Kolkata-class destroyer Key Events
INS Kolkata keel laid
PIB reported the lead ship's keel was laid at Mazagon Dock on September 26, 2003.
Sources: Prime Minister Commissions INS Kolkata | PIB
INS Kolkata launched
PIB's commissioning release records INS Kolkata's launch on March 30, 2006.
Sources: Prime Minister Commissions INS Kolkata | PIB
INS Kolkata enters service
Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissioned INS Kolkata at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai.
Sources: Prime Minister Commissions INS Kolkata | PIB
INS Kochi commissioned
PIB reported INS Kochi as the second Project 15A Kolkata-class guided-missile destroyer commissioned into the Indian Navy.
Sources: INS Kochi Commissioning | PIB
INS Chennai commissioned
PIB reported INS Chennai's commissioning as the formal induction of the third and last Kolkata-class destroyer.
Sources: INS Chennai Joins the Indian Navy | PIB
MRSAM cooperative engagement firing
INS Kochi and INS Chennai conducted a cooperative MRSAM firing trial, with one ship controlling missiles from both ships against aerial targets.
Sources: MRSAM Firing Trials | PIB
INS Chennai deployed for Op Sankalp
PIB reported INS Chennai in the Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf for Indian Navy maritime-security operations under Op Sankalp.
Sources: Indian Navy Executes Op Sankalp | PIB
BrahMos test from INS Chennai
BrahMos Aerospace reported a successful BrahMos firing from INS Chennai against an Arabian Sea target.
Sources: INS Chennai BrahMos Test Fire | BrahMos Aerospace
INS Kolkata assists MSC Sky II
PIB reported INS Kolkata responding in the Gulf of Aden after MSC Sky II was reportedly attacked by a drone or missile, then escorting the vessel and putting firefighting and EOD teams aboard.
Sources: MSC Sky II Assistance | PIB
INS Kolkata intercepts MV Ruen
PIB reported INS Kolkata intercepting MV Ruen east of Somalia, disabling the pirate-controlled ship's steering and navigation, and helping force the surrender of 35 Somali pirates.
Sources: MV Ruen Anti-Piracy Operation | PIB
Ships In Class
| Ship | Launch | Commissioned | Source-backed note |
|---|---|---|---|
| INS Kolkata | 30 Mar 2006 | 16 Aug 2014 | Lead ship of the indigenously designed and constructed Kolkata-class destroyers, built by Mazagon Dock Limited. |
| INS Kochi | 18 Sep 2009 | 30 Sep 2015 | Second Project 15A/Kolkata-class destroyer, built by Mazagon Dock Limited. |
| 1 Apr 2010 | 21 Nov 2016 | Third and last Kolkata-class destroyer, designed by the Directorate of Naval Design and constructed by Mazagon Dock Limited. |
Media
Kolkata-class destroyer Videos
Kolkata-class destroyer Images
Related Weapon Systems
Sources
Kolkata-class destroyerPublisher: Wikipedia | Note: Supports the class's service dates, ship count, dimensions, speed, complement, propulsion, and armament overview. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Kolkata Class Guided Missile DestroyersPublisher: Naval Technology | Note: Supports the class background, shipyard context, and the reported 163 m, 17.4 m beam, 6.5 m draught, 7,400-ton full-load displacement, and 30-knot performance figures. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Project 15-A Kolkata DDGHM - ProgramPublisher: GlobalSecurity.org | Note: Supports the three-ship program, Mazagon Dock construction context, and the reported Rs 3,800 crore per ship cost. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Destroyer Projects | Mazagon DockPublisher: Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited | Note: Supports manufacturer and specification context for Kolkata-class destroyers, including guided stealth missile destroyer role, Indian Navy customer, full-load displacement, length, breadth, speed, COGAG propulsion, mission domains, and weapon/sensor fit. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Prime Minister Commissions INS Kolkata | PIBPublisher: Press Information Bureau, Government of India | Note: Supports INS Kolkata commissioning, Project 15A design lineage, Directorate of Naval Design role, Mazagon Dock construction, keel and launch dates, and selected dimensions, propulsion, electrical power, crew, weapons, sensors, and helicopter facilities for the lead ship. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Project 15 to Project 15B Destroyer Line | PIBPublisher: Press Information Bureau, Government of India | Note: Supports the Project 15, Project 15A, and Project 15B destroyer lineage and the three Kolkata-class service-entry period from 2014 to 2016. | Accessed: 2026-07-04INS Kochi Commissioning | PIBPublisher: Press Information Bureau, Government of India | Note: Supports INS Kochi as the second indigenously designed and constructed Project 15A Kolkata-class guided-missile destroyer commissioned in September 2015. | Accessed: 2026-07-04INS Chennai Joins the Indian Navy | PIBPublisher: Press Information Bureau, Government of India | Note: Supports INS Chennai as the third and final Kolkata-class Project 15A destroyer, designed by the Directorate of Naval Design, constructed by Mazagon Dock Limited, and commissioned on November 21, 2016. | Accessed: 2026-07-04MRSAM Firing Trials | PIBPublisher: Press Information Bureau, Government of India | Note: Supports the relationship between Kolkata-class destroyers and Barak-8/MRSAM by identifying INS Kochi and INS Chennai in the cooperative engagement firing trial and stating that these surface-to-air missiles are fitted onboard Kolkata-class destroyers. | Accessed: 2026-07-04INS Kolkata BrahMos Test Fire | BrahMos AerospacePublisher: BrahMos Aerospace | Note: Supports the relationship between the lead Project 15A ship INS Kolkata and BrahMos by reporting a successful BrahMos firing from the ship and identifying the class's 16-missile BrahMos carriage configuration. | Accessed: 2026-07-04INS Chennai BrahMos Test Fire | BrahMos AerospacePublisher: BrahMos Aerospace | Note: Supports the relationship between the Kolkata-class member INS Chennai and BrahMos by reporting a successful BrahMos firing from the ship against an Arabian Sea target. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Kolkata class | WeaponSystems.netPublisher: WeaponSystems.net | Note: Supports reference context for the class's armament and sensor fit, including BrahMos, Barak-8, RBU-6000, 76 mm Super Rapid gun, AK-630 CIWS, and MF-STAR/HUMSA-NG sensors. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Indian Navy Executes Op Sankalp | PIBPublisher: Press Information Bureau, Government of India | Note: Supports 2019 Operation Sankalp direct use: INS Chennai, a Kolkata-class destroyer documented in the same entry's class sources, was deployed to the Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf for maritime-security operations. | Accessed: 2026-07-04MV 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 the crew was rescued. | Accessed: 2026-07-04MSC Sky II Assistance | PIBPublisher: Press Information Bureau, Government of India | Note: Supports 2019 Operation Sankalp direct use: INS Kolkata was mission-deployed in the Gulf of Aden, responded to MSC Sky II after a reported drone or missile attack, escorted the vessel, and embarked firefighting and EOD teams. | Accessed: 2026-07-04MV Ruen Anti-Piracy Operation | PIBPublisher: Press Information Bureau, Government of India | Note: Supports 2019 Operation Sankalp direct use: INS Kolkata intercepted the pirate-controlled MV Ruen east of Somalia, was fired on, disabled steering and navigation, and helped force pirate surrender and crew release. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Op Sankalp MV Ruen Air-Drop Citation | PIBPublisher: Press Information Bureau, Government of India | Note: Supports 2019 Operation Sankalp direct use by identifying the MV Ruen mission as an Op Sankalp anti-piracy operation and stating that the pirate-controlled ship opened fire at INS Kolkata. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Defense Post Kolkata-class deployment notePublisher: Defense Post | Note: Supports background context that the Barak-8/MRSAM system is deployed on the three Kolkata-class destroyers. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Barak-8 missile firing by Kolkata class destroyer.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for the Barak-8 firing image under Government Open Data License - India. | Accessed: 2026-07-04IAC1 Vikrant with INS Kolkata (D63) during sea trial.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for the sea-trial image. | Accessed: 2026-07-04INS Chennai (D65) at sea.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for the ship-at-sea gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-07-04