India's largest destroyers use massive codebases to master network-centric warfare
In short: The Kolkata-class destroyers represent a leap in Indian shipbuilding, moving beyond the previous Delhi-class. These stealth vessels utilize complex digital networks and advanced sensors to coordinate wide-area air defense, making the Indian Navy the first in Asia to deploy such sophisticated cooperative engagement capabilities.
The Kolkata-class, also known as Project 15A, consists of three stealth guided-missile destroyers: Kolkata, Kochi, and Chennai. Constructed by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL), these represent the Indian Navy's biggest destroyers. While they share similar dimensions with the preceding Delhi-class, they feature 2,363 specific modifications to upgrade weaponry, sensors, and helicopter systems.
A defining feature of these ships is their ability to conduct network-centric warfare via Cooperative Engagement Capability. Such technology enables various platforms to integrate sensors and effectors into one air defence system. During May 2019, two vessels from this class proved this capability, employing Joint Taskforce Coordination (JTC) mode to hit several aerial targets at long distances. This feat turned the Indian Navy into the world's second naval force, following the United States, to utilise this feature.
The complexity of these vessels is reflected in their digital architecture. For example, the combat management system on INS Kochi required the writing of approximately four million lines of code. This system integrates data from various sensors to advise commanding officers on real-time weaponry selection. To support these systems, the ships utilize an Asynchronous Transfer Mode based Integrated Ship Data Network (AISDN), alongside an Automatic Power Management System (APMS) and an Auxiliary Control System (ACS).
The development of the class was not without significant hurdles. Originally sanctioned in May 2000, the project faced substantial delays and cost escalations. While the 2008 program cost was estimated at ₹3,800 crore (US$390 million), by 2011, costs had risen to ₹11,662 crore (US$1.2 billion). These increases were driven by factors including delays in Russian warship-grade steel, inflation affecting Russian specialists, and technical delays involving Ukrainian propellers and shafts.
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