ASW Corvette 'Kavaratti' to be commissioned in port city

Visakhapatnam: The last of four indigenously built Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) stealth corvettes 'INS Kavaratti' under Project 28 (Kamorta class) is scheduled to be commissioned into the Indian Navy by General Manoj Mukund Naravane, Chief of the Army Staff at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam on Thursday. Touted as a potent stealth ASW corvette, Kavaratti is indigenously designed by the Indian navy's in-house organisation, Directorate of Naval Design (DND), built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata and portrays the growing capability of the Indian Navy, GRSE and the nation in becoming self-reliant through indigenisation.

The ship has up to 90 per cent indigenous content and the use of carbon composites for the superstructure is a commendable feat achieved in Indian shipbuilding. The ship's weapons and sensors suite are predominantly indigenous and showcase the nation's growing capability in this niche area. Kavaratti has a state-of-the-art weapons and sensor suite capable of detecting and prosecuting submarines. In addition to its anti-submarine warfare capability, the ship also has a credible self defence capability and good endurance for long-range deployments.

The ship will be commissioned into the navy as a combat-ready platform as the ship has completed sea trials of all the systems fitted onboard. It is a praiseworthy achievement in itself, taking into consideration the restrictions imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. With the induction of Kavaratti into its fold, the Indian navy's preparedness will be enhanced. Kavaratti takes her name from erstwhile INS Kavaratti which was an Arnala class missile corvette. The older Kavaratti distinguished herself by operating in support of Bangladesh's liberation in 1971.