GRSE built Anti-Submarine Warfare Corvette INS Kavaratti commissioned on Thursday

GRSE, a Mini Ratna Category 1 and leading shipyard of the country, had delivered this weapon-intensive platform to the Indian Navy in February this year.

INS Kavaratti was commissioned at Visakhapatnam by the Chief of the Army Staff, General MM Naravane, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC, in the presence of Rear Admiral VK Saxena, IN (Retd), Chairman & Managing Director, GRSE, and other senior officials of the Indian Navy.

Special High Strength Warship Grade Steel Type DMR 249 A, was indigenously developed for these ships’ construction.

INS Kavaratti and INS Kiltan are the first two major warships in the country to have the unique feature of Superstructure made of Carbon Fiber Composite Material.

GRSE is the first shipyard in the country to have successfully achieved this feat, wherein composite material has been integrated with the steel hull of these two ships.

This new age material, has led to an overall reduced weight which in turn led to significant speed/ maneuverability improvements and increased stability of over 20 per cent.

According to GRSE, strategic innovation and indigenization are at the heart of the first three Anti-Submarine Warfare Corvettes.

These potent platforms demonstrated their expertise in several Overseas Operations and International Maritime Exhibitions.

INS Kavaratti commissioned on Thursday is expected to follow suit.

The P28 Class of ships are equipped to fight in nuclear, biological and chemical warfare conditions, and have a host of weapons and sensors.

INS Kavaratti is a versatile Anti-Submarine Warfare platform, 109-meter-long, 14.1-meter-wide and a deep displacement of approx. 3250 tons.

With a maximum speed of 25 knots, and an endurance of over 3400 NM at 18 knots speed, the ship can accommodate 17 officers and 106 sailors.

This dominant platform is utilized for neutralizing enemy submarines by using weapons like torpedoes, rocket launchers and helicopters.

The stealth features make the ship nearly undetectable to the enemy both above and below the sea surface, according to GRSE.

GRSE is currently executing three major shipbuilding projects, namely the P17A Project for 3 Advanced Stealth Frigates, 4 Survey Vessels (Large) and 8 Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts.

The shipyard plans to deliver the last ship of the LCU Class by this year end and the first P17A ship is expected to be launched in December this year, well ahead of schedule