Indian Navy’s Fourth Anti-Submarine Warfare Corvette Launched

It’s an important day for the Indian Navy.  Kavaratti, the last of the four anti submarine warfare ASW class stealth corvettes, being built by Garden Reach Ship Builders and Engineers (GRSE) has been launched by wife of Minister of State for Defense, Inderjit Rao in Kolkata today

Kavaratti is 90% indigenous and the ship is well equipped to fight in Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Warfare conditions. It’s weapon’s and censor’s suite is predominantly indigenous, showcasing the nation’s capabilities in developing and deploying high performance,sophisticated weapon system and equipment. 

Kavaratti like its predecessor, also boasts of ‘firsts’ such as the revolutionary Rail Less  Helo Transversing System , Foldable Hanger Door, use of Personal Locator System  and use of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic.

Kavaratti is a silent high speed mover. It has a common raft mounted Gear Box and Diesel Engines, which give the ship very low radiated underwater noise. This is further complemented with an efficient propeller with very high cavitation inception speed.

With the displacement of 3300 tonnes the sleek and magnificent Kavaratti spans 109.1 meters in length and 13.7 meters at beam. The ship is propelled by four diesel engines to achieve speed in excess of 25 knots and has an endurance of more than 3400 nm.

The ship also has Total Atmospheric Control System , and an Integrated Platform Management System which includes Integrated Bridge System and Battle Damage Control System.

Enhanced stealth features have been achieved by ‘X’ form of hull, full beam superstructure, inclined ship sides and use of Infra Red Signature Suspension System for cooling the engine and generator exhausts.

Designed by Directorate of Naval Design and built by Garden Reach Ship Builders and Engineers Ltd, Kolkata, the contract for construction of four P 28 ships was signed on 11 June 2012, at the cost of about Rs 7800 crore ..Kavaratti, is being built under Project  28 of the Indian Navy . The first three P 28 ships are Kamorta, Kadmatt, Kiltan. P 28 ship have been constructed using high grade indigenous steel . Kamorta was delivered to Indian Navy on 12 July 2014 and was commissioned on 23 Aug 2014. Kadmatt and Kiltan are scheduled to be delivered between 2015- 17.

Defence Reporter

Project 75I - Who will get the pie?

New Delhi : Chief of Naval Staff Admiral RK Dhowan has expressed satisfaction with the progress of sea trials of the first indigenous nuclear-powered submarine, INS Arihant. He was speaking at the inauguration of a two-day National Aviation seminar to mark 62 years of naval aviation in the country on 30th April, 2015. On being asked about Project 75I, the Navy Chief said that the evaluation of the capabilities of various shipyards was in its final stages and the report would be ready shortly. All eyes are now set on the report that will determine ‘who gets what’ in Project 75I.

Project 75I (India)
Project 75I is designed to purchase six next-generation diesel submarines with Air Independent Propulsion System (AIP) technology for the Indian Navy by 2022. While conventional diesel-electric submarines have to surface every few days to get oxygen to recharge their batteries, AIP systems will help the submarines stay submerged for longer periods. Apart from AIP, the new submarines will have advanced detection range and combat management systems and better sensors for optimum performance. The weapon system would be a mix of torpedoes and missiles.
The six new submarines in P-75I project will outline various critical parameters including the weight and design of the submarine. The Project 75I submarines are expected to be bigger than the 1800-tonnes Scorpene class being built for P-75 project. The AIP systems will enable greater underwater endurance. Besides, they will also incorporate stealth, land-attack capability and other technological advancements.

Big Project – Big Contenders
Though the government is keen on indigenization as far as possible, there is still a need for foreign cooperation in this project. Leading international players, which have eyed India for long as one of the largest importers of submarines in the world, are currently in contention to manufacture six new stealth submarines in India. Project 75I is worth Rs 53,000 crore for six diesel-electric submarines (SSK). 
The Narendra Modi government has already shortlisted Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Pipavav Defence & Offshore Engineering Company to build six conventional submarines under this project. Mazagon Dockyard Limited (MDL) is already making six Scorpene submarines under Project 75. The shortlisted shipyards also include the public sector Hindustan Shipyards and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE). This is for the first time that the Ministry of Defence will consider private sector shipyards for a major Indian Navy ship-building project in a head-to-head competition with the public sector.

Foreign Companies in ‘Make in India’ Mode
Germany
German defence major Thyssen Krupp Marine Systems (TKMS) has said it will be participating in Project 75I and is ready to offer HDW Class 214 boats promising that it will be in line with the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
“The Indian Defence Ministry is expected to issue the P-75I RFP for which we are planning to offer the Type 214 submarine which combines best-in-class underwater endurance and diving depth," said Gurnad Sodhi, Managing Director of TKMS India, according to a Zee News report dated 29th March 2015. 
The report claims that the submarine has a fuel-cell based Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system and is the best that is available in the market.

Japan
Japan might bid for P 75I as India is keen on Japanese participation in the submarine building programme. Japan`s 4,200-tonne Soryu-class conventional attack submarines have garnered interest in India with Australia too in talks with Japan.

Spain
Spain`s Navantia is ready to offer its expertise in design and construction for India`s P 75I. It is also part of the Scorpene India Consortium along with France.

France
France is already a part of the P 75 project as it helps India build Scorpene boats in their shipyards. However, P 75I subs will be bigger than the 1800-tonnes Scorpene class being built.

Russia
Russia has said that it will be offering Rubin Amur 1650 class submarines to India. This boat is low-noise with a speed of 20 knots and is designed for both anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare.
One of the two nuclear-powered submarines that India uses is the Russian leased Project 971 Nerpa that was re-christened INS Chakra. The Akula-II class submarine was leased in 2012 and will stay with the Indian Navy until 2022.
Reports from Interfax-AVN have suggested that Russia is ready to lease a second such nuclear-powered submarine for a period of 10 years. The submarine being reportedly offered will be K-322 Kashalot or another submarine from the Akula class (Akula is the NATO reporting name for the Shchuka).

INS Arihant
INS Arihant is the first of the five nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines that India is building under its secretive Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project. This indigenously built submarine, when operationalised, will build a credible nuclear triad for the country. 

Present Scenario 
At present, the Indian Navy has 13 conventional and one nuclear attack submarine as part of its underwater fleet. The conventional fleet relies primarily on the Russian Kilo class with nine of these submarines more than 20 years old and still in service. In addition, four German-origin HDW subs are available with the Navy that are currently being upgraded to fire the Harpoon anti-ship missiles.
Six new French-origin Scorpene submarines are under construction in Mumbai. The first of the six Scorpene diesel-electric attack submarines (SSKs) INS Kalvari, was floated out on 6 April, 2015 at the state-owned shipyard Mazagon Dockyard Limited (MDL). In addition, India is getting ready to deploy its Arihant class nuclear missile boat towards the end of this year. The Navy is also likely to lease a new nuclear attack submarine from Russia shortly.

Defence Reporter