JOIN USThe home-built ASW, named after an island in the Lakshadweep archipelago, was built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE). ‘Kadmatt’ is expected to bolster the Navy’s stealth capabilities and enable it to efficiently hunt and destroy lurking enemy submarines.
The GRSE is slated to launch four ASW corvettes for the Indian Navy priced at Rs 1,700 crore each. ‘Kamorta’, the first in the series, was launched on April 19. After fitments, it is expected to be delivered to the Indian Navy in June 2012, while ‘Kadmatt’ will be handed over in March 2013.
The other two ASW corvettes, scheduled to float out of the GRSE yards, are ‘Kiltan’ and ‘Kavaratti’. The keel of the third ASW corvette was laid in August 2010.
The ASW corvettes - deemed as ‘Kamorta’ class ships – with more than 80 per cent indigenous content, are capable of fighting under the NBC (nuclear, biological and chemical) environment. They are designated as super-sophisticated frontline warships with stealth features.
The 109-metre-long, 12.8-metre-wide ship, with an approximate displacement capacity of 3,000 tonne, can achieve a maximum speed of 25 knots.
The ship, powered by four 3,888 KW diesel engines at 1,050 rpm, has an endurance to cover nearly 3,450 nautical miles at a speed of 18 knots and can carry a helicopter on board. Each ship can accommodate 17 officers and 106 sailors.
The anti-submarine warfare capability is largely achieved due to the low signature of radiated underwater noise.
The ship, having indigenous weapon and sensor suites, is equipped with super-rapid gun mounting, anti-aircraft guns, torpedo launcher, rocket and chaff launchers. The ship fittings include early warning, navigation, fire control radars and under-water sensors with integrated communication and electronic warfare systems.
Minister of State for Defence, Pallam Raju, said he was delighted that 50 per cent of the work on ‘Kadmatt’ was completed prior to the launch as against 40 per cent for Kamorta.
Pointing out that this was a record of sorts in the warship-building sector, he said: “The on-schedule ‘build programme’ would ensure timely contractual deliveries adding to the might of the country in its projection as a blue water navy of our region.” He said that the Navy and the Coast Guard had huge requirement of ships and added that timely delivery of ‘quality ships’ was the need of the hour.
“Modern ship-building technology and tools must be adopted to achieve this objective,” he said.
Raju said that the private sector in the country would have a bigger role to play in the coming years, especially in the indigenisation programme. He urged GRSE to put into practice effective mechanisms to meet such challenges.
“You have to concentrate on implementation of time-tested quality practices, effective corporate strategy, establishment of reliable and stabilised vendors and most importantly, training and upgradation of human resources,” he said.