INS Kamorta:-India’s First Indigenous built Anti-Submarine Stealth Corvettes
INS Kamorta (P28) is the first of four anti-submarine Kamorta-class stealth corvettes being built for the Indian Navy.A corvette (sometimes corvet) is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate (2,000+ tons) and larger than a coastal patrol craft or fast attack craft (500 tons or less).The Kamorta, and three other corvettes that will follow it — INS Kadmatt, INS Kiltan and INS Kavaratti — are reincarnations of an earlier line of 11 Soviet-supplied Arnala-class corvettes.
The Kamorta class has been designed for the sole purpose of hunting submarines. It has a displacement of 3400 tons, a length of 109 m and a beam of 13 m. These dimensions are comparable to that of a frigate as the Kamorta has been designed for blue water ops as well. The Kamorta is touted by the Indian Navy as having over 90% indigenous content. The steel and composites which have been used in construction are indigenously made along with a majority of the weapons and sensors. It is powered by 4 Pielstick diesel engines generating 3888 kW each, which drive 2 controllable pitch propellers via the gearboxes. Each ship has a crew of 150 sailors and 15 officers and a very ergonomic design which focuses on crew comfort.
The Kamorta Class corvettes will serve as the frontline warships for the Indian Navy. Primary task of the Kamorta Class will be ASW, while the vessels will also be deployed in anti-surface warfare (AsuW) and anti-air warfare (AAW).
It is a significant step towards India’s pursuit for self-reliance in indigenous warship building, bringing closer home Indian Navy’s quest to be a true Blue-Water Navy with ships and submarines designed and built within the country.
Design features of Kamorta Class
The Kamorta Class features high-tensile indigenous steel hull incorporating a superstructure made of indigenous DMR 249A steel and carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) materials. The hull and superstructure are designed to achieve low radar cross section.
The stealthier hull form is designed to deliver excellent seakeeping and manoeuvrability characteristics while also ensuring lower noise and vibration levels. The ASW corvette includes indigenous content of about 90%.
The corvette has an overall length of 109.1m and breadth of 12.8m. The standard displacement of the vessel is 2,500t. The ship complements a crew of 123 people, including 17 officers and 106 sailors.
Ins kamorta has enhanced stealth features such as an X Form Hull and inclined sides for low Radar cross-section, Infra-red suppression, and Acoustic quieting systems and is capable of fighting in NBC(Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) conditions.
Naval gun systems
The OTO Melara 76mm Super Rapid Gun Mount (SRGM) on the bow deck will deliver a rate of fire of 120 rounds a minute. The gun can fire standard ammunition for a maximum range of 16km.
Two AK 630 close-in weapon systems (CIWs), each mounted on either side of the deck, provide close-point defence against anti-ship missiles, precision guided weapons, low flying fixed or rotary wing aircraft, and small craft.
Missiles, ASW rockets and torpedoes
The Kamorta Class is installed with a 16-cell vertical launching system (VLS) for firing Barak surface-to-air missiles (SAMs). The Barak SAM system can strike anti-ship missiles, fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, as well as UAVs.
The RBU-6000 (IRL) anti-submarine rocket launchers and triple torpedo tubes mounted on the vessels ensure the engagement of enemy submarines.
Sensors and countermeasures
The Kamorta Class integrates Revati 3D surveillance radar, fire control radars and HUMSA (Hull Mounted Sonar Advanced).
The countermeasures against various incoming missiles are provided by Kavach naval decoy system. The electronic warfare system (EWS) fitted on the vessel further enhances the survivability.
“The countermeasures against various incoming missiles are provided by Kavach naval decoy system.”
The Ship also includes 1 Westland Sea King Mk. 42B helicopter.
Source:- Naval Technology
