INS Kavaratti: Anti-submarine warfare class stealth corvette launched

NEW DELHI: Adding to a series of recent developments in India's defence preparedness, Indian Navy's latest anti-submarine warfare class stealth corvette, the INS Kavaratti was launched on Tuesday.

Kavaratti is the last of the four anti-submarine warfare class stealth corvettes being built for India under Project 28. The corvette, with a displacement of 3,300 tonnes, has a length of 109.1 metres and measures 13.7-m at beam.

#INSKavaratti: Fourth #ASW #corvette launched in Kolkata (Pic: MoD) pic.twitter.com/ubSA8GagjZ

— ET Defence (@ETDefence) May 19, 2015

The ship is propelled by four diesel engines to achieve speeds in excess of 25 knots and has an endurance of more than 3,400 nautical miles.

Kavaratti, like its predecessors also boasts of "firsts", such as rail-less Helo Traversing System, Foldable Hangar door. Kavaratti has a common raft mounted gear box and diesel engines, which give the ship very low radiated underwater noise, claims Ministry of Defence.

Another boost for #IndianNavy! #INSKavaratti: GRSE decked up for launch of 4th ASW Corvette (Pic: MoD) pic.twitter.com/c48ScR0R2b

— ET Defence (@ETDefence) May 19, 2015

Defence sources said that about 90 per cent of Kavaratti is indigenous and the ship is "well equipped" to fight in nuclear, chemical and biological warfare conditions. Kavaratti's weapons and sensors suite is predominantly indigenous.

Designed by the Directorate of Naval Design and built by Garden Reach Ship Builders and Engineers, the contract for the construction of four P28 ships was signed in June, 2012, with the project priced at Rs 7,800 crore.

INS Kamorta, the first ship under this project, was commissioned by the Navy last year. Kadmatt and Kiltan are scheduled for delivery between 2015-2017.

Launching of a ship means transferring the vessel to water.

(With inputs from PTI)