INS Kolkata-PNS Hunain Collision 2026, Key Facts and Impact

The INS Kolkata was in the news after it was involved in a collision with Pakistan Navy vessel PNS Hunain in the North Arabian Sea on 15 September 2026. India stated that INS Kolkata was on routine deployment and that the Pakistani vessel carried out an unsafe manoeuvre that led to the collision.

What is INS Kolkata?

• INS Kolkata is an indigenously designed guided missile destroyer of the Indian Navy and the lead ship of the Kolkata-class destroyers under Project 15A.
• It was designed by the Indian Navy’s Directorate of Naval Design and built by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL), Mumbai. 
• It was commissioned on 16 August 2014.
• The ship is about 164 metres long and has a full-load displacement of approximately 7,400 tonnes. 
• It is equipped for air defence, surface warfare and anti-submarine warfare.
• Its major systems include surveillance radars, an indigenous electronic warfare system, HUMSA-NG sonar, Indigenous Rocket Launchers and Indigenous Twin-Tube Torpedo Launchers. It can also operate two Sea King or Chetak helicopters.

What is Project 15A?

• Project 15A is an Indian Navy shipbuilding programme under which the Kolkata-class guided missile destroyers were developed as an advanced version of the earlier Delhi-class destroyers under Project 15.
• The programme produced three ships, INS Kolkata, INS Kochi and INS Chennai, which were named after major Indian cities.
• Construction of the ships began in 2003, but the programme faced delays because of the complexity involved in developing and integrating advanced naval systems. INS Kolkata was commissioned in 2014, followed by INS Kochi in 2015 and INS Chennai in 2016.
• The Kolkata-class destroyers have a high level of indigenous content, reflecting India’s growing capability to design and build advanced warships within the country. They are equipped with advanced systems, including BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and Barak-8 air-defence missiles.

Project 15A was an important step in India’s development of indigenous destroyer-building capability and was later followed by Project 15B, which produced the Visakhapatnam-class destroyers.

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INS Kolkata Strategic Significance

INS Kolkata strengthens India’s naval capabilities while supporting its wider maritime security and strategic interests.

• INS Kolkata can undertake air defence, anti-surface warfare and anti-submarine warfare, making it capable of handling different types of maritime threats.
• Its advanced sensors and combat systems help the Indian Navy monitor maritime activity and respond to potential threats.
• The ship can support the protection of important Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) and commercial shipping on which India’s trade and energy security depend.
• Its ability to operate in distant maritime areas allows India to maintain a sustained naval presence in strategically important waters.
• Its deployment in the North Arabian Sea is significant because the region connects the Indian Ocean with the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf.
• Designed by the Indian Navy and built by Mazagon Dock Limited, INS Kolkata also reflects India’s growing capability in indigenous warship design and defence production.

INS Kolkata-PNS Hunain Incident

On 15 September 2026, INS Kolkata and PNS Hunain were involved in a collision in the North Arabian Sea, about 120 nautical miles from the Gulf of Oman.

According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, INS Kolkata was on routine deployment and PNS Hunain approached the Indian warship at high speed and carried out an unsafe manoeuvre. India stated that the incident was contrary to Article 10 of the 1991 India-Pakistan Agreement and also violated the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs). INS Kolkata did not suffer significant damage and remained operational at sea.

Pakistan presented a different account of the incident and alleged aggressive manoeuvring by the Indian vessel. India rejected these allegations. The incident subsequently led to diplomatic protests by both countries.

1991 India-Pakistan Agreement 

The 1991 Agreement between India and Pakistan on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troops Movements contains provisions intended to reduce the risk of accidental escalation between the armed forces of the two countries.

Article 10 states that naval ships and submarines belonging to the two countries should not come within three nautical miles of each other while operating in international waters, in order to avoid accidents. India referred to this provision while raising its objection over the collision.

The incident therefore has relevance not only for maritime safety but also for confidence-building and deconfliction mechanisms between India and Pakistan.