Indian Navy’s second indigenous stealth destroyer of the P15B class, Mormugao, planned to be commissioned in mid-2022, on Sunday proceeded on her maiden sea sortie.
The ship is to be put to sea coinciding with the celebrations marking 60 years of Goa’s liberation from Portuguese rule.
“The Indian Navy had played a pivotal role in the liberation and dedicating the ship’s name to the maritime state of Goa will not just enhance the bonding between the Indian Navy and the people of Goa, but also link the ship’s identity permanently to the crucial role the Navy played in nation-building,” according to the defence ministry here.
Mormugao is being built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDSL) as part of Project 15B destroyers. The ship incorporates several niche indigenous technologies and is a shining example of Atma Nirbhar Bharat. She has provided thrust and impetus to the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
Mormugao will add significantly to the Indian Navy’s combat capabilities. With the recent commissioning in November 2021 of INS Visakhapatnam and the fourth P75 submarine INS Vela, the commencement of sea trials of Mormugao is testimony to the cutting-edge capabilities of MDSL and the strong indigenous shipbuilding tradition of a modern and vibrant India, the Ministry note further added.