Rajput -class destroyer
The Rajput-class destroyers are a class of five guided-missile destroyers developed for and operated by the Indian Navy, representing modified variants of the Soviet Union's Kashin-class design with enhancements such as an aft helicopter deck and indigenous upgrades for anti-ship and air defense capabilities.[1][2] Built at the Mykolayiv Shipyard in the Soviet Union (now Ukraine) during the late 1970s and 1980s, the ships were commissioned between 1980 and 1988, marking the Indian Navy's first acquisition of large guided-missile surface combatants from the USSR and serving as a cornerstone for its blue-water ambitions.[1][2] These vessels displace 3,950 tons standard and 4,974 tons at full load, measure 147 meters in length with a beam of 15.8 meters and draft of 5 meters, and achieve a maximum speed of 35 knots via a combined gas and gas (COGAG) propulsion system powered by four gas turbines delivering 72,000 shaft horsepower.[1] Their original armament included four P-20M (SS-N-2D Styx) anti-ship missiles, two twin S-125M (SA-N-1 Goa) surface-to-air missile launchers with 44 missiles, one twin AK-726 76 mm dual-purpose gun, four AK-630 CIWS mounts, a quintuple 533 mm torpedo tube launcher, and two RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers, enabling multi-role operations in surface warfare, air defense, and anti-submarine warfare.[1][3][4] The lead ship, INS Rajput (D51), was commissioned on 30 September 1980, followed by INS Rana (D52) on 28 June 1982, INS Ranjit (D53) on 15 September 1983, INS Ranvir (D54) on 28 October 1986, and INS Ranvijay (D55) on 21 December 1988; these destroyers participated in key operations such as Op Talwar during the 1999 Kargil War, multinational exercises like SLINEX and TROPEX, and humanitarian missions including the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami relief.[1][2] Mid-life modernizations in the 1990s and 2000s integrated advanced sensors like the Ajanta electronic warfare suite on some units, while INS Rajput became the testbed for the Indo-Russian BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, with eight cells installed and successfully fired in trials from 2003 to 2005, later extended to other ships for enhanced strike capabilities reaching 290-450 km ranges.[1][5] As of November 2025, INS Ranjit was decommissioned on 6 May 2019 after 36 years of service, and INS Rajput followed on 21 May 2021 after 41 years, including its pioneering role in BrahMos integration; the remaining three—INS Rana, INS Ranvir, and INS Ranvijay—continue active duty, primarily based at Visakhapatnam and Mumbai, undergoing ongoing upgrades with indigenous systems like Barak-1 missiles and advanced sonars to extend operational life amid plans for replacement by next-generation destroyers under Project 18.[6][7][2]Development and construction
Background and origins
In the aftermath of the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War, India faced significant challenges in modernizing its naval forces, exacerbated by the United States' suspension of military aid and the ongoing arms embargo that had been in place since the 1965 conflict. This geopolitical shift pushed India toward closer military ties with the Soviet Union, which had provided crucial diplomatic and logistical support during the war, including vetoing UN resolutions against India and deploying naval assets to the Bay of Bengal. The Indo-Soviet Treaty of Peace, Friendship, and Cooperation, signed on August 9, 1971, formalized this partnership by committing both nations to mutual consultations in the event of threats to their security, laying the groundwork for expanded Soviet arms transfers to bolster India's defense capabilities.[8][9] By the mid-1970s, the Indian Navy's surface fleet was critically outdated, relying on three World War II-era R-class destroyers transferred from Britain in 1949, which lacked the guided-missile capabilities needed to counter modern threats like anti-ship missiles and to support emerging carrier task forces. Recognizing the urgency for advanced destroyers, Indian planners initiated discussions with the Soviet Union starting around 1972 to acquire and adapt a proven design, culminating in negotiations that dragged on until 1974. These talks focused on technology transfer and co-development, leading to the selection of a modified version of the Soviet Kashin-class destroyer as the basis for India's new fleet.[9] The formal agreement for the construction of five such destroyers was reached by late 1975, with the design finalized as Project 61MI—a tropicalized variant suited to Indian operational conditions—and initial orders placed in 1976 for production at the Soviet 61 Kommunara Shipyard in Mykolaiv. This acquisition marked a pivotal step in the Indian Navy's modernization, introducing its first guided-missile destroyers and enabling greater self-reliance through incorporated indigenous elements, while replacing the obsolete R-class vessels and enhancing India's blue-water capabilities amid regional tensions.[9]Design modifications from Kashin-class
The Rajput-class destroyers were adapted from the Soviet Kashin-class design through several key modifications requested by the Indian Navy to enhance anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities, helicopter operations, and suitability for tropical maritime environments. The most significant change involved the addition of an aft flight deck and elevator, replacing the original Kashin helicopter pad; this allowed the first three ships (INS Rajput, INS Rana, and INS Ranjit) to operate the HAL Chetak light helicopter for ASW and utility roles, while the last two (INS Ranvir and INS Ranvijay) were equipped for the heavier Ka-28 Helix-A helicopter, enabling extended-range dipping sonar and torpedo deployment.[1][9] Electronic systems were upgraded for better integration and reliability in humid, high-temperature conditions prevalent in the Indian Ocean. The Soviet MR-310 Angara air-search radar was replaced with the MP-500 Kliver (NATO: Big Net-A) C-band radar, providing improved detection ranges up to 100 nautical miles, while navigation radars utilized two Volga sets (NATO: Don Kay) at I-band for enhanced accuracy in cluttered tropical waters. Sonar integration was tropicalized with the MGK-335 Platina suite, offering better hull-mounted and variable-depth capabilities for ASW in warm, layered waters, compared to the Kashin's less adaptable MG-311 Vychegda system. Indigenous fire control elements, such as early BEL systems, were incorporated to facilitate compatibility with Indian weapons and reduce reliance on Soviet electronics.[9][1] Structurally, the hull was reinforced to support the added weight of ASW equipment, including quintuple 533 mm torpedo tubes and RBU-6000 rocket launchers, prioritizing submerged threat detection and engagement in littoral operations. Crew accommodations were expanded to 320 personnel, including provisions for helicopter aircrew and improved living quarters suited to extended deployments in tropical climates. These changes increased the standard displacement from the Kashin's 3,400 tons to 3,950 tons, reflecting the integration of heavier aviation and sensor suites while maintaining operational balance for carrier escort and independent task force roles in the Indian Navy.[9][1][2]Building program and commissioning
The Rajput-class destroyers were constructed exclusively at the 61 Kommunara Shipbuilding Plant in Mykolayiv, Ukrainian SSR (now Mykolaiv, Ukraine), as part of a Soviet-Indian defense cooperation agreement.[6] This facility, a major Soviet naval yard, handled the full production of the five vessels between 1976 and 1988, incorporating Indian-specified modifications to the base Kashin-class design for enhanced compatibility with Western and indigenous systems.[9] Construction timelines varied due to the yard's concurrent commitments to Soviet fleet projects, resulting in staggered keellayings from 1976 to 1982. The building program progressed as follows, with key milestones for each ship:| Ship Name | Laid Down Date | Launched Date | Commissioned Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| INS Rajput (D51) | 11 September 1976 | 17 September 1977 | 4 May 1980 |
| INS Rana (D52) | 29 November 1976 | 27 September 1978 | 19 February 1982 |
| INS Ranjit (D53) | 29 June 1977 | 16 June 1979 | 15 September 1983 |
| INS Ranvir (D54) | 24 October 1981 | 12 March 1983 | 28 October 1986 |
| INS Ranvijay (D55) | 19 March 1982 | 1 February 1986 | 21 December 1987 |