Armament is a mix of conventional and missile-minded weaponry. Over the forecastle is a single 76mm OTO-Melara turreted deck gun. 4 x KT-184 series launchers have 16 x Kh-35 Surface-to-Surface Missiles (SSMs) between them. Three octuple Vertical Launch Systems (VLSs) are fitted for the 24 x Barak Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs) carried. 4 x 30mm AK-630 Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWSs) protect against inbound, short-ranged aerial threats. 2 x RBU-6000 systems act as Anti-Submarine ROCket (ASROC) units and the warship rounds out its armament suite with 2 x Triple torpedo tubes.
The ship's profile makes use of some stealth features such as the slab-sided hull structure that contours some into the main superstructure. Part of her armament suite is seated at the forecastle as well as across the superstructure proper. The bridge is placed in its usual location overlooking the bow and the main mast is aft of the bridge section, ahead of the low-profile smoke funnels located amidships. Aft of this is the secondary mast which leads the hangar superstructure tied to the stern-based helipad. The helipad can service a single medium-lift navy helicopter, the Westland "Sea King" (detailed on this site) typically being featured.
As a relatively recent addition to the inventory of the Indian Navy, Brahmaputra is an all-modern surface combatant with active search, tracking and engagement systems. To date, the vessel has been used in local and inter-national exercises at home and abroad as well as in humanitarian relief/rescue operations (such as Operation Sukoon as part of the 2006 Lebanon War). In July of 2009, she took part in Task Force Europe with the British Royal Navy and the French Navy in British and French waters.
On paper, the Brahmaputra-class frigates have been superseded by the more advanced Talwar-class detailed elsewhere on this site.
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