Kamorta-class corvette

Design and description

In 2003, under the code name Project 28, the Indian Navy placed an order for four anti-submarine warfare (ASW) corvettes. The corvette's design was originally planned to be based on the Russian corvette Project 2038.2, however the basic design was later provided by the Indian Navy's Directorate of Naval Design, followed by the detailed design by Garden Reach Ship Builders and Engineers (GRSE). The design includes many stealth ship features, including reductions in acoustic signature and vibration of the vessels.

The class incorporates some major features including but not limited to the X-shaped hull form to improve stealth, a raft-mounted propulsion system to reduce vibration, and an infrared signature suppression system. It also includes networks such as the Total Atmospheric Control System (TACS), Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS), Integrated Bridge System (IBS), Battle Damage Control System (BDCS) and Personnel Locator System (PLS). The ships also include technology that enables them to fight in nuclear, biological and chemical warfare (NBC) scenarios. The Indian Navy claims that the indigenisation achieved in these ships is about 90%.

General characteristics and propulsion

The overall length of the Kamorta-class corvettes is 109 m, and the beam spans 13.7 m. The ships displace about 2500 t at standard load and 3500 t when fully loaded. Each ship retains a complement of 180 sailors and 13 officers.

They are propelled by four Pielstick 12 PA6 STC diesel engines, each with a power of 5096 hp in CODAD configuration. They also have two controllable pitch propellers which helps the ship achieve maximum speeds in excess of 25 kn.

Electronics and sensors

The Kamorta-class corvettes boast a wide variety of sensors. Given below are the list of known sensors in the corvette:

• BEL Revathi 3-D E/F-band radar
• BEL HUMSA-NG bow-mounted sonar
• BEL Lynx U1 fire-control radar
• IAC Mod C fire-control system
• 1 × Atlas Elektronik towed array sonar (to be fitted)

Armament

The armament of the class includes a license-built OTO Melara 76 mm Super Rapid Gun in a stealth mount and a weapons layout similar to what is found on the and s, two Larsen & Toubro (L&T) built derivatives of the RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launcher, as well as two of L&T's twin 533 mm torpedo tube launchers equipped with Varunastra torpedoes, and a pair of AK-630M close-in weapon system (CIWS). The fire-control system is the Bharat Electronics IAC Mod C system.

There is an option to include surface-to-air missiles. As of 2022, Indian Navy is planning to integrate VL-SRSAM. The corvette can hold one helicopter, which currently is a Westland Sea King Mk.42B helicopter.

Construction

The order for four Kamorta-class corvettes were placed in 2003 by the Indian Navy. Construction of the lead ship, INS Kamorta began in the year 2005 and the keel was laid down in 2006 at GRSE, Kolkata. The ship was launched in the year 2010 and was inducted into the navy in 2014 after a series of delays. Construction of the second ship, followed and the keel was laid in 2007. The corvette was launched in 2011 and was inducted in the early 2016. was laid down in 2010 and launched in 2013. While the last ship of its class, was laid down in 2012 and launched in 2015. Both the ships were commissioned in 2017 and 2020 respectively.

The project's objective was to enhance localization and development of warship construction industry in India. The navy asked the Indian industries to deliver equipment of higher sophistication levels than usual. This led to some unforeseen delays in the product delivery, and struggles perfecting the products.

All the ships of this class are built using DMR 249A special grade high-tensile steel, produced by the state-owned Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), and carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) materials. The main machinery is raft mounted, and each gear unit and its associated engines are mounted on a common raft. The diesel engines are license built by Kirloskar under SEMT Pielstick of France. DCNS supplies the noise-suppressing raft-mounted gearbox for CODAD propulsion. Wärtsilä India manufactures the low-vibration diesel alternators to power the on-board electronics.

The ships also includes an integrated ship management system (ISMS) from L-3 MAPPS which combines an integrated platform management system and bridge management system into a single integrated system.

INS Kiltan and INS Kavaratti are to be more advanced than their elder ships. In a first, composite materials, imported from Kockums, Sweden, are used for the construction of the superstructures. This resulted in increased stealth features, reduced weight relative to typical superstructures built with steel, anti-corrosive and fire resistant. It's also projected for the ships to have some additional armament and new features.

The last ship of the class Kavaratti was commissioned by Indian Army's COAS General Manoj Mukund Naravane on 22 October 2020.

Ships of the class

All the ships names of the class are reincarnations of ships from the previous s which are considered to be the spiritual predecessors of the Kamorta class.

Export

Failed Bids

Philippines

Under the Frigate Acquisition Project, the Philippine Navy sought to purchase two light frigates, each displacing 2600 t, spanning 109 m in length, capable of cruising at 25 kn and be able to sail in sea state 7. In the bidding process, GRSE was selected as the lowest bidder among the contenders next to Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, Hyundai Heavy Industries and Navantia in 2016. The deal was said to cost more than .

Based on a post qualification assessment, GRSE was disqualified on the grounds of not meeting the financial capability requirements. A heavily modified version of the Korean frigate, known as the , built by Hyundai Heavy Industries was eventually chosen in 2018.

Brazil

In June 2018, GRSE submitted its proposal for the Brazilian Navy's future corvette program. GRSE offered a modified Kamorta class of 2,800 tonnes with weapons and sensors on par with its Philippines offer. The project was planned to be completed in Brazil's local shipyard for which GRSE teamed up with Sinergy Group Corporate for local production. Other conteders included Goa Shipyard Limited, BAE Systems, Damen, Fincantieri, Naval Group, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, Turkey’s STM, and Ukrinmash.

GRSE's proposal did not make the downselect in October 2018. A design by TKMS, based on the MEKO design, winning the contract with keel laying being reported in March 2023.

Gallery

|File:INS Sahyadri along with JS Ōmi (AOE-426) and a Kamorta class corvette.jpg | with JMSDF and a Kamorta-class corvette during Malabar exercise. |File:INS Kadmatt (P29) with JS Uraga (MST-463) during an exercise.jpg | with during an exercise. |File:INS Kadmatt (P29) and INS Kiltan (P30) during anti-submarine firing drills.jpg | and during anti-submarine firing drills. |File:INS Kiltan replenishment at sea by USNS Richard E. Byrd.jpg | replenishment at sea by . |File:INS Kavaratti during trials.jpg | during trials |File:INS Kavaratti (P31) in Indian Ocean.jpg | patrolling the Indian Ocean. |File:INS Kamorta visits Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia (1).jpg | visits Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia |File:INS Kavaratti during sea trials.jpg | during trials

References

References

1. (19 May 2015). "INS Kavaratti: Anti-submarine warfare class stealth corvette launched". The Economic Times.
2. "INS Kadmatt commissioned at Visakhapatnam".
3. (22 July 2014). "Indian Navy takes delivery of first anti-submarine corvette". IHS Jane's Navy International.
4. (6 January 2016). "Indian Navy commissions second Kamorta-class ASW corvette". IHS Jane's Navy International.
5. "Aero India".
6. (16 October 2017). "INS Kiltan commissioned to Navy by defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman". The Times of India.
7. (19 May 2015). "'Kavaratti' – Fourth Ship of Project – 28 (Anti Submarine Warfare Corvette) Launched at GRSE, Kolkata".
8. (2020-10-21). "Indigenously built ASW Corvette 'Kavaratti' to be Commissioned at Visakhapatnam".
9. (23 August 2014). "INS Kamorta: All you need to know about India's indigenous warship". dna.
10. "Project 28 ASW Corvette". globalsecurity.org.
11. Malik, Amarjeet. "Anti-submarine corvette for Navy next year". General Military School.
12. (2014-08-23). "India gets its first '90% indigenous' warship".
13. (29 June 2016). "Anti-submarine torpedo Varunastra inducted in Navy". The Indian Express.
14. Vavasseur, Xavier. (2020-10-26). "Indian Navy Commissions Final Kamorta-class ASW Corvette".
15. Shukla, Ajai. (1 August 2009). "Warship project delayed to build up private sector". Business Standard.
16. Nair-Ghaswalla, Amrita. (2018-01-12). "Strict adherence to indigenisation norm delays production of anti-sub warfare ships". The Hindu Business Line.
17. "Bharat-Rakshak.com : Navy – Project 28 Class". bharat-rakshak.com.
18. (June 2010). "The Power of Two: Combined IPMS + IBS for the Indian Navy P28 Stealth Corvettes". MCS News.
19. (22 December 2015). "GRSE's last two ASW corvettes to be very advanced: Navy".
20. (19 May 2015). "INS Kavaratti launched".
21. (27 April 2015). "Navy experimenting with composite superstructure for warships". The Economic Times.
22. (21 October 2020). "INS 'Kavaratti' warfare corvette to be commissioned". Telangana Today.
23. "GRSE delivers 4th anti-submarine warfare corvette to Navy".
24. Shukla, Ajai. (23 August 2014). "India gets its first "90 per cent indigenous" warship". Business Standard.
25. (20 April 2010). "India's first anti-submarine warfare corvette launched". The Hindu.
26. (24 August 2014). "INS Kamorta joins Eastern Fleet". The Hindu.
27. (26 October 2011). "INS Kadmatt launched". The Hindu.
28. (7 January 2016). "Boost for Indian Navy's firepower: INS Kadmatt, anti-submarine warfare corvette, commissioned". The Economic Times.
29. "Keel Laying – Anti Submarine Warfare Corvette GRSE Yard No. 3019".
30. (27 March 2013). "Third anti-submarine warfare corvette launched in Kolkata". The Hindu.
31. "Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers: Committed to Self Reliance in Maritime Security". Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers.
32. (22 October 2020). "General Manoj Mukund Naravane PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC, Chief of the Army Staff Commissions INS Kavaratti". [[Press Information Bureau]].
33. "Frigate Acquisition Project (FAP)".
34. "Frigates purchase aimed at ensuring PH territorial integrity".
35. Romero, Alexis. "Indian firm offers lowest bid for P16-B Navy frigates project".
36. "GRSE to Export Light Frigates to Philippines". DefenseNews.
37. (8 June 2016). "GRSE close to sealing deal with Philippines on warship export". Business Standard.
38. (30 June 2016). "Losing bidders buck P18-b Navy deal". Manila Standard.
39. Fonbuena, Carmela. (2018-04-08). "PH Navy approves design drawings for frigates project".
40. "Estaleiro indiano GSL mira corvetas Tamandaré e projetos de Marinhas na América do Sul".
41. Mrityunjoy Mazumdar. "GRSE unveils design proposal for Brazilian corvette programme". Jane's.
42. (20 October 2018). "Four European Designs Shortlisted for Brazilian Navy Tamandaré-class". Navy Recognition.
43. "Tamandaré frigate keel laying marks innovation in military shipbuilding in Brazil".