Kora-class corvette

Design

The primary role of the Kora class is as surface combatants, representing a modernized version of the prior . They are armed with four quad-launchers for 3M-24 anti-ship missiles (Russian: Kh-35 Uran, NATO: SS-N-25 Switchblade) as opposed to the two dual launchers for P-15 Termit ASMs (NATO: SS-N-2D Styx) of its predecessor. The 3M-24E missile is guided by homing active radar and can carry a 145 kg warhead to a range of 130 km at Mach 0.9 speed. They are powered by two SEMT Pielstick/Kirloskar 18 PA6V 280 diesel engines. A HAL Chetak or HAL Dhruv helicopter can operate from the vessels. The vessels are also supplied with Strela-2M ManPADS (NATO: SA-N-5 Grail), which have a range of 4.2 km and a speed of Mach 1.75. is equipped with two Igla surface-to-air missile launchers (NATO: SA-18 Grouse).

The first two corvettes of the subclass are armed with a 76 mm AK-176 dual-purpose gun and two 30 mm AK-630 CIWS. The AK-176 can fire at the rate of 120 rounds-per-minute (RPM) to a range of 15.5 km, while the AK-630 can fire at 3,000RPM to a range of 2 km. and are fitted with a 76 mm Otobreda super rapid gun firing 120 RPM.

The sensor suite includes a MR-352 Pozitiv-E (Cross Dome) air or surface search radar, Bharat 1245 navigation radar and BEL Rani navigation radar. The MR-352 radar can track targets within a range of 130 km. Fire control is provided by Garpun-Bal and MR-123 radars. The Garpun-Bal radar combines active and passive channels and in the active target designation mode, it operates in X-band (I/J-band) and can handle up to 150 targets at ranges between 35 -, although it is possible to obtain ranges of more than 180 km in wave-guide propagation conditions.

The corvettes are fitted with the Ajanta P Mk II Electronic Support Measures system. There are four PK-10 chaff launchers and two towed torpedo decoys to deceive incoming anti-ship missiles and torpedoes. PK-10 is a 10 tube 120 mm barrage chaff launcher that can fire 80 rounds at a time.

The Kora class is powered by two diesel engines driving two controllable pitch propellers through two shafts. Each engine is rated at 7100 hp. Four diesel alternators rated at 350 kW are provided for power generation. The propulsion system provides a top speed of 25 kn, an average speed of 16 kn and a maximum range of 4000 nmi.

Each ship cost in 2001 approximately . A simpler version exported to Mauritius in 2014 cost approximately .

History

The Kora-class corvettes were designed by India's Naval design bureau under Project 25A, as a replacement for the Russian-designed Petya II-class corvettes of the Indian Navy. The first two were ordered in April 1990 and latter two in October 1994. The class was to be outfitted with the Trishul SAM, but following the cancellation of the Trishul project, a shoulder-launched SAM was adopted.

undertook a goodwill visit to Singapore in mid-2001. The corvette participated in the Republic of Singapore Navy Day celebrations followed by the International Maritime Defence Exhibition (IMDEX) Asia 2001. The participation of INS Kora in the International Maritime Defence Exhibition was a showcase of the Indian shipbuilding industry and its indigenous efforts.

Export

In 2012, it was reported that Mauritius had ordered 2 vessels based on this class from the Garden Reach Shipbuilders.

Ships of this class

Gallery

|File:INS Kora (P61) escorting PLA Navy Ship Weifang off Visakhapatnam, India in May 2014.jpg |INS Kora escorting PLA Navy Ship Weifang off Visakhapatnam, India. |File:INS Sumedha (P59) and INS Kulish (P63) enroute to Bangladesh.jpg |INS Sumedha (P58) and INS Kulish (P63) enroute to Bangladesh. |File:INS Kulish (P63) is underway with U.S. and Indian navy ships during Exercise Malabar 2012.jpg |INS Kulish (P63) underway with U.S. Navy during Exercise Malabar 2012. |File:INS Kulish (P63), left, passes USS Halsey during Malabar 2012.jpg |INS Kulish, left, passes USS Halsey during Malabar 2012. |File:INS Karmuk P64 at Visakhapatnam.jpg |INS Karmuk at Visakhapatnam, India. |File:MCGS Barracuda at sea.jpg |MCGS Barracuda a derivative of Kora-class corvette en-route to Mauritius for delivery to National Coast Guard Mauritius.

In popular culture

and were featured in the Bollywood film Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Sathiyo, where they are seen accompanying the Rajput-class destroyer .

References

References

1. (2005). "Jane's Fighting Ships 2005-2006". Jane's Information Group.
2. [http://indiannavy.nic.in/corvettes_kora.htm Indian Naval Ships-Corvettes-Khukri Class] {{webarchive. link. (19 June 2009)
3. (9 July 2011). "Project 25A Kora Class". globalsecurity.org.
4. "Kora (Type 25A) Class". Bharat-Rakshak.com.
5. (30 April 2012). "Surface Force: An Indian First". Strategy Page.
6. (6 April 2016). "Andaman islands get first missile Corvette". India Today.
7. (21 December 2017). "INS Kulish joins ANC". The Echo of India.
8. (21 December 2017). "INS KULISH arrives in Andaman and Nicobar Command". Andaman Sheekha.
9. (3 August 2013). "India-made warship for Mauritius launched". The New Indian Express.
10. (16 March 2015). "State Visit of Indian PM: New OPV, the CGS Barracuda, commissioned". Government of Mauritius.