Chinmaya IAS Academy – Current Affairs Chinmaya IAS Academy – Current Affairs
The Indian Navy’s guided missile destroyer, INS Surat, recently carried out a successful test launch of a medium-range surface-to-air missile in the Arabian Sea.
Overview of INS Surat
INS Surat is the fourth and final vessel in the Project 15B stealth guided missile destroyer series, also known as the Visakhapatnam class. This class of warships is among the most advanced and largest destroyers globally. Designed by the Warship Design Bureau of the Indian Navy and constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in Mumbai, the ship was officially inducted into the Navy in January 2025.
Boasting approximately 75% indigenous components, INS Surat features cutting-edge weaponry, sensors, and network-centric technologies.
Key Features of INS Surat
As the Indian Navy’s first warship integrated with artificial intelligence (AI), INS Surat employs AI-driven systems developed within the country to significantly improve its operational performance.
Weighing in at 7,400 tonnes and stretching 164 metres in length, the vessel is a formidable multi-role platform equipped with advanced weapon systems, including surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, and torpedoes.
It is powered by a Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) propulsion system comprising four gas turbines, enabling it to achieve speeds exceeding 30 knots (approximately 56 km/h).