Indian Defence Review

Kavaratti at the Dock Prior Launch

The Fourth Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW) Corvette of Project-28, christened ‘Kavaratti’, was launched today at a glittering ceremony held at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE), Kolkata. The Hon’ble Raksha Rajya Mantri, Rao Inderjit Singh was the Chief Guest at the occasion. In keeping with the nautical traditions, the ship was launched by Smt Manita Singh, wife of the Hon’ble Raksha Rajya Mantri. After an invocation to the Gods was recited, Smt Manita Singh broke a coconut on the Ship’s Bow, named the ship and wished her future crew good luck.

Speaking on the occasion the Hon’ble Raksha Rajya Mantri, Rao Inderjit Singh lauded the contributions made by GRSE, Kolkata in meeting the growing requirements of the Navy. Admiral RK Dhowan, Chief of the Naval Staff, during his address acknowledged the excellent work done by the yard for contributing towards achieving Indian Navy’s dream of transforming itself from a “Buyers Navy” to “Builders Navy”. He also commended the work of DGND and his team at Directorate of Naval Design in designing state of the art warships for the country.

The four ships of Project-28 built by GRSE, Kolkata have been designed indigenously by the Directorate of Naval Design, New Delhi and bear testimony to the acclaimed legacy of Naval Designers. The ships have been constructed using high grade steel (DMR 249A) produced in India. With a displacement of 3300 tonnes, the sleek and magnificent ASW Corvettes span 109.1 meters in length and 13.7 meters at the beam.

They are propelled by four diesel engines to achieve speeds in excess of 25 knots and have an endurance of more than 3000 Nm. The P-28 corvettes also boast of “firsts” such as the revolutionary Rail-less Helo Traversing System, Foldable Hangar Door, use of Personnel Locator System and use of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) Superstructure integrated with the Steel Hull in the third and fourth ships of the Class. These ships have common raft mounted Gear Box and Diesel Engines, which give the vessels very low radiated underwater noise.

This is well complemented with an efficient propeller with very high cavitation inception speed. The P-28 Ships also have Total Atmospheric Control System (TACS) and an Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) which include Integrated Bridge System as well as Battle Damage Control System. The ASW Corvettes also incorporate new design concepts for improved survivability, sea keeping, stealth and manoeuvrability. Enhanced stealth features have been achieved by including Low Radar Cross Section (RCS) signature through full beam superstructure, inclined ship sides and reduced Infra Red (IR) signature by use of ‘Infra Red Suppression System (IRSS) device’ for cooling the Engine and Diesel Alternator exhausts. The ships are also equipped to carry and operate one multiple role helicopter.

Kavaratti will also be packed with an array of state of art weapons and sensors, including a Medium Range Gun (from M/s Bharat Heavy Electrical Ltd), Torpedo Tube Launchers as well as Rocket Launchers (from M/s Larsen & Tubro), Close-In Weapon System (from M/s Gun and Shell Factory) and Chaff System (from M/s Machine Tool Prototype Factory). With significant indigenous content, the Ship is a true hall mark of self reliance attained by our country in warship design and ship building.

Smt. Manita Singh, wife of the Minister of State for Planning (Independent Charge) and Defence, Shri Rao Inderjit Singh performing pooja to launch the ‘Kavaratti’ - Fourth Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW) Corvette of Project-28, at a glittering ceremony, at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE), Kolkata on May 19, 2015. The Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral R.K. Dhowan and other dignitaries are also seen.