Superweek For Indian Shipbuilding: After P15A Kolkata, Navy Gets 1st P28 ASW Corvette Tomorrow

Official Indian Navy literature shared with Livefist today along with these exclusive photographs: Kamorta, the lead ship of the four Project 28 anti-submarine (ASW) corvettes being built by India's state-owned Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), named after the erstwhile Petya Class ship from USSR ex-Kamorta (21 Nov 1968 - 31 Oct 1991), the new Kamorta has been indigenously conceived and designed. With a unique hull-form, stealth features, state-of-the-art weaponry and integrated systems, Kamorta is designed to operate in the multiple threat environment.

The ship’s keel was laid on 20 Nov 2006 and the ship was launched on 19 April 2010. The ship is 110 m long and displaces about 3,400 T. With four diesel engines in CODAD (combined diesel & diesel) propulsion she has a max speed of about 25 knots. She is capable of carrying an integral ASW helicopter. Her manning comprises of 13 officers and 176 sailors. The formidable array of weapons include heavy weight torpedoes, ASW rockets, 76 mm Medium Range gun and two guns as Close-in-Weapon System (CIWS) with dedicated fire control systems, chaff systems and the PDMS which would be installed in due course. Her sensors include the most advanced bow mounted sonar, advanced ESM system and direction finder, an air surveillance radar with capability to detect target exceeding 200 Km and an active towed array system which would be installed in due course. 

The ship is being delivered to the Indian Navy on 12 July 2014. Kamorta would be commissioned next month at Visakhapatnam and would form part of the Eastern Fleet under the Eastern Naval Command.

Cost of four of these class of ships is Rs. 7852.39 crore. These ships have been designed the Indian Navy’s in-house Design Organisation i.e. Directorate of Naval Design (DND). Stealth features include X-form Hull for low RCS, Raft Mounted Gear Box for low under water noise and Infra Red Signature Suppression Device for low heat radiations. Usage of DMR 249A steel for construction which has been developed indigenously by Defence Material Research Laboratory and manufactured in-house Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL). Use of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) superstructure integrated with the steel hull in the third and fourth ships of the class. First time installation of revolutionary foldable hanger door and Railless Helo Traversing System and Telescopic Boat Davit.

Highlights of the design includes Low Radar Cross Section (RCS) signature through full beam superstructure, inclined ship sides and reduced Infra red (IR) signature by use of “Infrared Suppression System (IRSS) device’ for cooling the engine and diesel alternator exhausts, developed indigenously by Naval Scientific and technical Laboratory (NSTL). It has ‘Combination of Diesel and Diesel (CODAD)’ propulsion system with the two diesel engine along with one gear box on each shaft. The ship is fitted with indigenous state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, including a Medium Range Gun (form M/s Bharat Heavy Electrical Ltd), Torpedo Tube Launchers as well as Rocket Launchers (form M/s Larsen & Tubro), Close-In Weapon System (form M/s Gun and Shell Factory) and Chaff System (from M/s Machine Tool Prototype Factory). Ship is equipped with a Bow mounted Sonar and are capable of deploying a Seaking 42B helicopter, adding considerable punch to the ship’s anti-submarine capability.

Modular Accommodation, Gallery and Vacuum Sanitation System for high standard of Crew Habitability. Total Atmospheric control system for effective heat ventilation and air conditioning. Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) which include Integrated Bridge System as well as Battle Damage System for effective modern warfare.

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