Kamorta Project 28 ASW Corvette
The Indian Navy modernization program includes a new antisubmarine warfare corvette. By late December 2003, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers was developing a new corvette design that would follow the Kora-class, of which the fourth and final unit (Karmukh) was commissioned in 2004. The new corvette would displace about 2,400 tons full loaded, in the size-class of a modern frigate. With the design under development, plate-cutting started on the first unit in 2005 and up to eight units of the class could eventually be built.
The 2nd International Naval & Defence Show (IMDS-2005) held in St Petersburg provided new information on the Project 28 (P-28) ASW corvette to be designed and built by GSRE. The Russian Severnoye Design Bureau confirmed that the P-28 will be derived from from the Russian Project 20382 design. The platform was to be Russian, and most major systems will be Indian. But Contrary to earlier reports, this vessel is not an adaptation of the Russian Project 2038.0 (Steregushchy Class) design. Rather, the Indian Navy provided the basic design with a detail design by GRSE.
According to one account, the P-28 will displace 1,800 tons light, with dimensions of 94 m length, 13m beam, and 3.5 m draft. The CODAG propulsion system, comprising twin gas turbines, twin diesel engines and twin diesel generators will drive two-shaft, controllable-pitch propellers. The corvette will have a maximum speed of 27 Knots, range of 4,000nm, endurance of 15 days and a crew compliment of 85. The helicopter deck will be able to house either the dipping sonar-equipped Ka-28PL or Naval HAL Dhruv.
Armament details were not entirely clear, though it seems to include an OTOBreda 76/62 main gun, twin 12-barrelled RBU-6000 ASW mortar launchers, twin ILAS triple-tube torpedo launchers for launching Franco-Italian MU-90 lightweight torpedoes, and one 16-cell Israeli Barak-1 VLS anti-missile defence system.
By one account they will include an eight-cell vertical launched Klub-N 220km-range supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles, and another account mentions Two AK-630M CIWS (Close In Weapon System). Russia's AK630, with associated MR-123 ('Bass Tilt') radar, is a compact mounting weighing only 3.7 tonnes (loaded) and the Gatling-principle 30 mm gun of 5000 rounds/min and a range of up to 2.5 nm (five km).
Yet another report from 2007 claims that the Novator 3K54TE Granat (SS-N-21 'Sampson') had been selected for India's latest Project 28 corvettes. This sub-sonic weapon is part of the Club family and is unusual in being vertically launched as well as weighing a whopping 3665 kg, yet its range is only 120 nm (220 km). This weapon uses inertial navigation and active radar homing Active radar homing is a missile guidance method in which a guided missile contains a radar transceiver and the electronics necessary for it to find and track its target autonomously. NATO brevity code for an active radar homing missile launch is Fox Three.
The Barak Weapon System seems to be the favored missile, over the Shtil, in newer IN ships. The missile features command-to-line-of-sight guidance with Elta EL/M-2221GM weapon control radars and is housed in vertical cell clusters which may be inserted in the hull or superstructure or distributed around the deck. The missile has a range of 6.5 nm (twelve km) and, like many, it can be used not only against manned or unmanned aircraft but also to help shield against anti-ship missiles.
The 76-mm gun offers the optimum between low mass and high effect with the twelve-kg rounds being useful not only in the ASuW role but also in the Naval Gun Fire Support (NGFS) role at ranges up to 10.75 nm (20 km) while the high rate-of-fire (85 rounds/min) provides a degree of AAW capability. Corvette customers increasingly select the Super Rapid version of the mounting with improved feed and hoist systems, which permit 120 rounds/min.
Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei (Wass) and DCNS have combined its efforts to produce the MU-90 Impact torpedo to be used in India's Project 28s and possibly by Poland's Gawrons. This has a maximum range of 7.25 nm (13.5 km) with a maximum speed of up to 50 knots and a more advanced guidance system than the A 244/S which will probably be used by India's Project 28. This weapon is licence-produced by Bharat Electronics in India.
The EMDINA combat management system (CMS) was originally co-designed by the Indian Navy's Weapons and Electronic Systems Engineering Establishment (WESEE) and TATA Power as part of project MEDINA. This centralised CMS architecture has been adopted for the Navy's three Project 17 guided-missile frigates (FFG), three Project 15A guided-missile destroyers (DDG), and the four Project 28 ASW guided-missile corvettes.
Displacing around 2500 tons and with a length of around 110 meters, this vessel is a corvette in name only - it is actually closer to a small frigate.
Garden Reach Shipbuilding & Engineering Ltd (GRSE) showcased a representative scale model of the Project 28 ASW corvette at the 11th Defence Services Asia exhibition (DSA 2008) held in the Malaysian capital city of Kuala Lumpur from April 21 to 24 2008. The frigate's main mast carried the 2.5-tonne Revati radar, an EL/M-2221 STGR fire-control radar illuminator for the Barak-1, as well as a BEL-built Shikari (THALES' Flycatcher) fire-director of the main gun. The first four planned Project 28 ASW corvettes, each costing Rs7 billion, would also have on board the ELBIT Systems-built Deseaver decoy dispensers onboard.
The ASW corvettes, deemed Kamorta class ships- with more than 80 per cent indigenous content and capable of fighting under NBC (nuclear, biological and chemical) environment, are designated as super-sophisticated frontline warships with stealth features. The 109-metre long and 12.8-metre wide ship with an approximate displacement capacity of 3,000 tons can achieve a maximum speed of 25 knots. The ship, powered by four 3888 KW diesel engines at 1,050 rpm, has an endurance to cover nearly 3,450 nautical miles at 18 knots and can carry a helicopter on board. Each ship can accommodate 17 officers and 106 sailors. The anti-submarine warfare capability is largely achieved due to the low signature of radiated underwater noise. The ship having indigenous weapon and sensor suites is equipped with super-rapid gun mounting, anti-aircraft guns, torpedo launcher, rocket and chaff launchers. The ship fittings include early warning, navigation, fire control radars and undr-water sensors with integrated communication and electronic warfare systems.
GRSE was slated to launch four ASW corvettes for the Indian Navy costing nearly Rs 1,700 crores apiece. Kamorta, the first in the series, was launched by Mrs Mamatha on 19 April 2010. Kamorta, after fitments, was expected to be delivered to the Indian Navy in June 2012 and Kadmatt in March 2013. The keel of the third ASW corvette, meanwhile, was laid in August 2010. The remaining two ASW corvettes scheduled to float out next from GRSE yards are Kilfan and Kavaratti.
By August 2011 the major indigenous warship building projects of the Navy running behind schedule are Project-15A, Project-17 and Project-28. The cost escalation in these projects had been about 225% for Project-15A, about 260% for Project-17 and about 157% for Project-28. In the case of P-28, the Navy was using D40S/B-quality high tensile strength steel for construction of warships; however, due to high cost of import, indigenously developed DMR 249A steel was decided to be used on P-28 ships. However, there was delay in development of indigenous steel and associated complexities related to development of new weld consumables and welding techniques. The delay in identification of suitable propulsion package to meet stealth requirement of ships and delay in development of indigenous weapons and sensors also resulted in cost escalation.
This the first ship in the country built with a composite superstructure. The superstructure made of carbon fibre composite material has been successfully integrated with the main hull of the ship. Besides reducing the top weight, it will provide improved stealth features and reduce life cycle maintenance costs. The ship's hull form is highly efficient with excellent sea-keeping and manoeuvrability characteristics having an overall length of 109 metres. The ship can cut through the sea at a very high speed of 25 knots. Hull of the ship is built with warship-grade high tensile indigenous steel.
The ship's advanced stealth features will make her less susceptible to detection and help in effective deployment of soft kill measures. The ship will be fitted with complete indigenous state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, including a medium range gun, torpedo tube launchers, rocket launchers and close-in weapon system. These ships are also equipped with a Bow mounted Sonar and are capable of deploying a helicopter, adding considerable punch to the ship's anti-submarine capability. These ships also feature an advanced Integrated Platform Management System for controlling and co-ordinating the propulsion, auxiliary and power generation equipment.
The new P-28 ASW corvettes also mark many firsts including introduction of the 'rail-less helo traversing system' to handle a helicopter on board the ship, foldable hangar door, use of indigenous DMR 249A steel and carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) superstructure integrated with the steel hull of the ship.
The Indian Navy’s modernization quest, under ‘Project-28’, to stealthily hunt and destroy lurking enemy submarines got further bolstered with the launch of the second indigenous anti-submarine warfare (ASW) corvette, Kadmatt, named after an island in the Lakshwadeep archipelago. It has been built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) at Kolkata.
The third Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW) Corvette for the Indian Navy designed under Project-28 (P-28) by the Navy's Directorate of Naval Design, built by one of India's leading shipbuilders, Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. (GRSE), was launched in Kolkata. Named after an island - Kiltan - in the Lakshwadeep archipelago of India, the ASW Corvette was launched by Mrs Chitra Joshi from GRSE mainyard in the presence of Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral DK Joshi, Chairman and Managing Director, GRSE, Rear Admiral (Retd) A K Verma and other officials from the Ministry of Defence, Armed Forces and West Bengal administration.
With nearly 90% indigenisation content aimed to be achieved in the manufacturing of the ship, the efforts made by Indian Navy and Defence Shipyards towards the national goal of indigenisation and self-reliance got a major impetus with this latest ASW Corvette launch.
The Indian Navy also got closer to acquiring the ASW platforms that will stealthily seek and destroy lurking enemy submarines as the first GRSE-built ASW Corvette, Kamorta, was expected to be delivered to Indian Navy in 2013. The remaining three ships, according to GRSE, would be delivered by 2016. The fourth ASW Corvette was to be launched in 2014.
Project 28A
Under the Maritime Capabilities Perspective Plan 2022's indigenous construction component, the Navy will acquire two Cadet Training Ships, five more offshore patrol vessels (OPV) to add to the four already ordered from Goa Shipyard Ltd, three LPDs, seven Project 17A FFGs, six SSKs under Project 75(I), eight guided-missile corvettes under Project 28A (to add to the four Project 28 ASW vessels being built by Garden Reach Shipbuilding & Engineering), eight GRP-hulled MCMVs, and another integrated aircraft carrier.
Work on India's first completely indigenous next generation missile corvette, Project 28A, was as of mid-2013 underway and the first boat which was undergoing sea trials was expected to be inducted by the end of 2013, after much delay. The navy will have four of these corvettes - Kamorta, Kadmat, Kiltan and Kavaratti.
Ships
NameNumberPortBuilderLaid DownCommDeliverDecomm
Project 28
KamortaYard 3017
GRSE20 Nov 200619 April 2010Jun 2012
KadmattYard 3018
GRSE27 Sep 2007 24 Oct 20112016
Kilfan Yard 3019
GRSEAug 201026 Mar 20132016
KavarattiYard 3020
GRSE? 200920142016
Project 28A
GRSE? 2010? 2014
GRSE? 2011? 2015
GRSE? 2012? 2016
GRSE? 2013? 2017
GRSE? 2014? 2018
GRSE? 2015? 2019
GRSE? 2016? 2020
Specifications
Displacement1,800 tons - light
2500 tons - standard displacement
Length94 meters / 109.1 meters
Beam13 meters / 13.7 meters
Draft3.5 meters
Molded Depth8.5 meters
Propulsioninitial design
CODAG propulsion system
- two-shaft, controllable-pitch propellers
OR - later design
four Pielstick 12 PA6 STC engines, each rated at 4270 Kw.
Range4,000 nm
Endurance 15 days
Speed 25-27 Knots,
later design = 28-32 knots
Armament
- One OTOBreda Melara 76mm Super Rapid Gun Mount (SRGM)
- one 16-cell Barak SAM (Surface-to-Air Missile) launcher
- Two 12-barrel RBU-6000 ASW mortar launchers
- twin ILAS triple-tube torpedo launchers
- Franco-Italian MU-90 533mm lightweight torpedoes
initial design included
- eight-cell VLS Klub-N 220km-range supersonic ASCM
- Two AK-630M CIWS (Close In Weapon System)
Aircraft Ka-28PL or Naval HAL Dhruv
Crew 85
Global security.org
new ships are coming out one after another. With this pace of modernization we'll have a blue water Navy by 2020.
