The Western fleet of the Indian Navy, operating from Mumbai, is fully deployed and ready. In the event of any attack in this region, they are entirely prepared to retaliate and defend.
The Western Fleet's crown jewel, INS Vikrant, is India's first indigenously-built aircraft carrier. After the Pahalgam terror attack, the navy moved it closer to Pakistan and subsequently stationed it at the Karwar port. Equipped with various weapons and aircraft, this carrier strike group forms a formidable force.
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Source: aajtak
Following the Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian Navy stationed its first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, near the Arabian Sea by Karwar shores. This carrier's strike group includes an aircraft carrier, destroyers, frigates, anti-submarine warfare ships, and other support vessels.
This group operates as a robust unit capable of engaging in various maritime operations. It acts as a strong defensive shield against threats from air, surface, and submarine attacks, capable of daunting the Pakistani Navy at any moment, potentially disrupting Karachi and Gwadar ports, even impacting all of Pakistan.
How many warships are in this strike group?
INS Vikrant...
Source: aajtak
The INS Vikrant boasts a displacement of 45,000 tons, measuring 262 meters in length and 59 meters in width. It can carry up to 40 fighter jets. With powerful turbines from General Electric, it has 1.10 lakh horsepower. It hosts squadrons of MiG-29K fighters and 10 Kamov Ka-31 helicopters. This aircraft carrier's strike force range extends 1500 km. Armed with 64 Barak missiles capable of striking air targets from the ship, and equipped with BrahMos missiles, which instill fear in Pakistan.
INS Kolkata...
Source: aajtak
The first destroyer of the Kolkata class. Active since 2014. Its motto: Ready for Battle. This battleship, with 7500 tons of displacement, spans 535 feet in length with a beam of 57 feet, capable of reaching speeds up to 56 km/hr. Equipped with six types of advanced sensors and three types of electronic warfare and decoy systems. Armed with 32 Barak-8 and 16 BrahMos missiles, 1 Oto Melara 76 mm naval gun, 4 AK-630 CIWS, 4 torpedo tubes, and 2 RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers. It can deploy two Sea King or Dhruv helicopters.
INS Vishakhapatnam ...
Source: aajtak
The lead stealth-guided missile destroyer of the Vishakhapatnam class, active since 2021. With a displacement of 7400 tons, it is 535 feet in length and 57 feet in beam, achieving a top speed of 56 km/hr with a range of 7400 km. It can remain at sea for 45 days, housing 50 officers and 250 sailors. Equipped with 6 Kavach decoy launchers, 32 Barak 8 missiles, 16 BrahMos anti-ship missiles, 4 torpedo tubes, 2 anti-submarine rocket launchers, and 7 types of guns. Deploys Dhruv and Sea King helicopters. Features 21-inch torpedo tubes and RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers.
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INS Mormugao ...
This stealth-guided missile destroyer of the Vishakhapatnam class has been part of the Navy since November 24, 2022. With a displacement of 7400 tons, the warship is 535 feet long, reaching a top speed of 56 km/hr. It houses 300 sailors and is equipped with 6 Kavach decoy launchers. Armed with 32 Barak 8 missiles, 16 BrahMos anti-ship missiles, 4 torpedo tubes, and 2 anti-submarine rocket launchers alongside 7 types of guns. Deploys Dhruv and Sea King helicopters, featuring 21-inch torpedo tubes and RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers.
INS Chennai ...
Source: aajtak
A stealth-guided missile destroyer of the Kolkata class, it has bolstered the Navy's strength since 2016. Motto: Annihilator of Enemies. Weighing 7500 tons, its length is 535 feet with a beam of 57 feet, achieving speeds up to 56 km/hr. Equipped with six types of advanced sensors, three types of electronic warfare and decoy systems. Armed with 32 Barak-8 and 16 BrahMos missiles, 1 Oto Melara 76 mm naval gun, 4 AK-630 CIWS, 4 torpedo tubes, and 2 RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers. Deployable two Sea King or Dhruv helicopters.
INS Talwar...
The Talwar class, a series of stealth-guided missile frigates, exude power with a sea displacement of 3850 tons. These ships stretch 409.5 feet long with a beam of 49.10 feet and a draught of 13.9 feet, racing across the sea at a maximum speed of 59 km/hr. At 26 km/hr, they cover a range of 4850 km. INS Talwar can support 18 officers and 180 soldiers for 30 days at sea, before needing resupply.
Source: aajtak
Equipped with electronic warfare systems and 4 KT-216 decoy launchers, they host 24 Shtil-1 medium-range missiles, 8 Igla-1E, 8 vertical launch anti-ship club missiles, 8 vertical launch anti-ship and land attack BrahMos missiles. They feature a 100 mm A-190E naval gun, a 76 mm Oto Melara naval gun, 2 AK-630 CIWS, and 2 Kashtan CIWS guns. These devastating weapons are paired with 533-millimeter torpedo tubes and a rocket launcher. They can deploy a Kamov-28, Kamov-31, or Dhruv helicopter.
