Description

Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.

Context

INS Chennai and INS Kesari participated in manoeuvring exercises and Visit, Board, Search & Seizure (VBSS) drills during the Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) 2025.

INS Chennai

Aspect	Details
Type	Kolkata-class stealth guided missile destroyer (Project 15A)
Position	Third and final ship of Project 15A (after INS Kolkata and INS Kochi)
Builder	Mazagon Dock Limited Mumbai
Commissioning Date	21 November 2016
Command	Western Naval Command (Operational and Administrative Control)

Features

Weapons Systems:

Supersonic BrahMos surface-to-surface missiles.

Barak-8 Long Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (LRSAM).

Countermeasure Systems:

‘Kavach’ chaff decoy system (against anti-ship missiles) — Indigenously developed.

‘Mareech’ torpedo decoy system (against torpedo threats) — Indigenously developed.

Aviation Capability:

Designed to carry and operate up to two multi-role combat helicopters.

Operational Capabilities:

Capable of expeditionary missions and surface strike operations.

Equipped for warfare under nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) threat conditions.

Radar and Sensors:

Fitted with modern surveillance radar providing target data to ship’s weapon systems.

INS Kesari

Aspect	Details
Type	Shardul-class Landing Ship Tank
Builder	Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Kolkata
Commissioning Date	5 April 2008
Primary Role	Amphibious operations, transportation of troops, vehicles, equipment
Additional Role	Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief missions

Features

Can carry troops, main battle tanks, armored vehicles and heavy military equipment.

Supports landing operations and beach assaults.

Extensively used for disaster relief operations example: COVID-19 missions under Mission SAGAR.

Provides critical logistics support during military missions and peacetime deployments.

Sources: TRIBUNEINDIA

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Which of the following is/are indigenous systems fitted on INS Chennai?

Kavach
Mareech
Barak-8 missile system

A) 1 and 2 only
B) 2 and 3 only
C) 1 and 3 only
D) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: A)Explanation: 'Kavach' (chaff decoy system) and 'Mareech' (torpedo decoy system) are indigenous. Barak-8 is a joint development between India and Israel.