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Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft

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Arnala (Y3029) during its launch
Class overview
NameAnti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC)
Builders
Operators Indian Navy
Preceded byAbhay-class corvettes[1]
Succeeded byNext Generation Missile Vessels
Cost
  • ₹12,622 crore (equivalent to ₹150 billion or US$1.8 billion in 2023) for 16 ships (FY 2020)
  • ₹789 crore (equivalent to ₹929 crore or US$110 million in 2023) per ship (FY 2020)
Planned16
Building12
General characteristics
TypeCorvette
Displacement
  • 700 tons (CSL)[4]
  • 900 tons (GRSE)[5]
Length
  • 77.6 metres (255 ft) (GRSE)[3]
  • 78 metres (256 ft) (CSL)[7]
Beam
  • 10.5 metres (34 ft) (GRSE)[3]
  • 11.26 metres (36.9 ft) (CSL)[7]
Draught2.7 metres (8.9 ft) (GRSE)[3]
PropulsionWater-jet propulsion[6]
Speed25 knots (46 km/h) [10]
Range1,800 nautical miles (3,300 km) (at 14 knots (26 km/h)[3]
Complement57 (7 officers + 50 sailors)
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Combat Suite:
  • ASW Combat Suite (presumably the DRDO-developed IAC MOD 'C' combat suite)[8][9]
  • Sonar:
  • Hull-Mounted Sonar (HMS)[8]
  • Low Frequency Variable Depth Sonar (LFVDS)[8]
  • Management Systems:
  • Fire Control System (FCS)[1]
  • Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS)[8]
  • Automatic Power Management System (APMS)[8]
  • Battle Damage Control System (BDCS)[8]
Armament
NotesLargest waterjet-powered vessels in the Indian Navy.[10]

The Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) corvettes, are a class anti-submarine warfare vessels currently being built for the Indian Navy, by Cochin Shipyard (CSL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE).[1] They were conceived as a replacement to the ageing Abhay-class corvettes of the Indian Navy, and are designed to undertake anti-submarine warfare (ASW) duties – including subsurface surveillance in littoral-waters, search-and-attack unit (SAU) missions and coordinated anti-submarine warfare operations with naval aircraft.[11] They were also designed to provide secondary duties – including defense against intruding aircraft, minelaying and search-and-rescue (SAR).[12]

Equipped with sophisticated sensors and ordnance, the vessels also possess the capabilities to interdict and destroy subsurface targets – primarily hostile submarines, within the vicinity of coastal waters.[11] A total of 16 vessels are being built for the Indian Navy, jointly by CSL and GRSE under the Make in India initiative.[3] The Indian Navy plans to have all 16 vessels in active service by 2026.[3]

History

Background

In December 2013, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) –- the main acquisition panel subordinate to India's Ministry of Defence (MoD), approved the procurement of sixteen anti-submarine warfare (ASW) vessels capable of operating in shallow waters, at a cost of INR ₹13,440 crore, to replace the ageing Abhay-class corvettes of the Indian Navy – which were commissioned between 1989 and 1991.[13][14]

In June 2014, the MoD issued a tender, worth USD $2.25 billion under the 'Buy and Make India' category to private-shipyards – including Larsen & Toubro (L&T), ABG Shipyard, Pipavav Defense and Offshore Engineering (R-Naval), Goa Shipyard (GSL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), for the procurement of the 16 anti-submarine vessels.[15]

In October 2017, Cochin Shipyard (CSL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) emerged as the first and the second-lowest bidder in the tender, respectively.[16]

Purchase

On 29 April 2019, the MoD and GRSE signed a contract valued at INR ₹6,311 crore (US$760 million) for eight anti-submarine vessels, to be delivered between 2022 and 2026.[17] The contract stipulated that the first vessel had to be delivered within 42 months of the date of signing, with the remaining seven vessels delivered at regular intervals.[18][19]

On 30 April 2019, the MoD and CSL signed a similar contract, valued at INR ₹6,311 crore (US$760 million) for the construction of the remaining eight vessels – within a deadline of 84 months.[20] Under this contract, the first ship was also expected to be delivered within a span of 42 months, with subsequent deliveries of two ships per year.[21][22]

Construction

On 1 December 2020, CSL initiated the project's construction, with the steel-cutting of the first ASW-SWC vessel, Mahe (BY 523) at Kochi.[23]

On 31 December 2020, GRSE initiated the construction of the stipulated vessels under its agreement, with the steel-cutting ceremony of the first of the eight vessels it had been assigned with, at L&T's shipyard at Kattupalli, near Chennai.[24][25]

In July 2021, GRSE initiated the construction of two more vessels under its contract, with their respective steel-cutting ceremonies, while the keel of the first vessels (which had begun construction in December, 2020) was laid on 6 August 2021.[26]

CSL initiated the steel-cutting of the fourth and fifth vessels of the series, on 1 December 2021.[27]

Design

Under the contract for the construction of the 16 vessels, the two shipyards contracted by the Indian Navy – Cochin Shipyard (CSL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), will respectively build eight vessels of their own, respective designs.[1]

The first eight vessels assigned to GRSE were designed entirely by GRSE's in-house design team, while the remaining eight vessels assigned to CSL were developed by a joint venture – consisting of CSL, Smart Engineering & Design Solutions (India) Ltd. (SEDS) and DA-Group subsidiary Surma Ltd.[28][1]

The ASW-SWC vessels are the biggest vessels of the Indian Navy to be powered by water-jet propulsion; the vessels' water-jet propulsion system allows the vessel to sprint swiftly for short intervals.[1] The vessels are also reported to possess several features of stealth – including a reduced radar cross-section (RCS), a low acoustic signature and a low infrared signature.[29]

Armament

The ASW-SWC vessels are equipped with one RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launcher and two sets of light-weight torpedo-tube launchers for launching anti-submarine torpedoes, (presumably the Advanced Light Weight Torpedo (ALWT)), for neutralizing enemy submarines.[6] The vessels are also equipped with mine rails, which enables the vessel to lay anti-submarine mines along the seabed.[1]

Aside from its primary anti-submarine weaponry, the vessels are also equipped with one small-calibre cannon (presumably the CRN-91 30 mm naval gun) and two 12.7 mm M2 "Stabilized Remote Controlled Gun" remote-weapon stations (RWS), equipped with optronic control systems.[1]

Sensors

For detecting and intercepting hostile submarines, the ASW-SWC vessels are equipped with sophisticated sonar equipment, including a hull-mounted sonar (HMS) and towed low-frequency variable-depth sonar (LFVDS).[1]

Capabilities

Being vessels primed for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), the ASW-SWC vessels were conceived to undertake multiple missions, including "search-and-attack-unit" (SAU) roles, low-intensity maritime operations (LIMO), subsurface surveillance in littoral-waters and coordinated ASW operations with maritime-patrol aircraft (MPA).[1] In addition, the vessels also possess the capability to interdict and destroy subsurface targets, within the vicinity coastal waters.[30] The vessels can also be deployed for search-and-rescue (SAR) missions in littoral waters.[31]

In their secondary role, the vessels will be able to lay mines, to protect domains of crucial importance, such as naval bases and commercial ports, from enemy submarines.[32]

Ships of the class

Name Pennant Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Commissioning Homeport Status
Mahe 523 Cochin Shipyard (CSL) 30 August 2022[33] Under Construction[34][27]
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
Arnala P68 3029 Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) 6 August 2021[35] 20 December 2022 2023 [36] Launched
3030 17 June 2022 [37] Under Construction[38]
3031
TBD
3035 21 December 2021[39] Under Construction
TBD
TBD
TBD

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC)".
  2. ^ a b "GRSE, CSL starts production of ASW-SWC Corvettes".
  3. ^ a b c d e f "GRSE starts ASW-SWC corvette production in partnership with Larsen & Toubro". Janes.com.
  4. ^ "Government gives GRSE contract to build 8 Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts - GKToday". www.gktoday.in.
  5. ^ "LAUNCH OF 'ARNALA', FIRST SHIP OF ASW SWC (GRSE) PROJECT ON 20 DEC 22 AT M/s L&T, KATTUPALLI". pib.gov.in. PIB. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  6. ^ a b c "Touted As 'Game-Changer', What Are Indian Navy's 'Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts'?". Latest Asian, Middle-East, EurAsian, Indian News. December 27, 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Details of Indian Anti-submarine Corvette For Coastal Waters | Indian Politics".
  8. ^ a b c d e f http://grse.in/eoi/EOI_ASW_SWC_R1.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  9. ^ "Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd.- Government of India Undertaking - Tender Archive". grse.in.
  10. ^ a b c "Details of GRSE's small anti-submarine corvette emerge - Shephard Media". www.shephardmedia.com.
  11. ^ a b "Cochin Shipyard from India holds steel cutting ceremony of Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts". Navy Recognition.
  12. ^ "Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASWSWC)". May 9, 2019.
  13. ^ Bhatnagar, Gaurav Vivek (2013-12-24). "Four major acquisitions for the Navy and the Army approved". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2017-10-17.
  14. ^ "MoD clears Navy plans to get 16 shallow-water anti-sub vessels", The Tribune, 25 December 2013, retrieved 27 May 2015
  15. ^ "India issues $2.25bn tender to procure ASW shallow-water craft". June 18, 2014.
  16. ^ "Garden Reach Shipbuilders set to win ₹5,400-crore Navy order". @businessline.
  17. ^ Himatsingka, Anuradha (29 April 2019). "GRSE signs contract for 8 anti-submarine warfare shallow water crafts for Indian Navy". The Economic Times.
  18. ^ Himatsingka, Anuradha. "GRSE signs contract for 8 anti-submarine warfare shallow water crafts for Indian Navy" – via The Economic Times.
  19. ^ "Contract Signing with M/s CSL and M/s GRSE for Acquisition of Sixteen Anti Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) for Indian Navy | Indian Navy". www.indiannavy.nic.in.
  20. ^ "GRSE Signs Contract for 08 Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Watercraft". psuwatch.com.
  21. ^ "Cochin Shipyard gets Rs 6,311 crore contract for anti-submarine warfare ships". Business Today.
  22. ^ "Cochin Shipyard gets ₹6,311 crore contract for anti-submarine warfare ships". mint. April 30, 2019.
  23. ^ "Indian ASW corvette programme cuts first steel - Shephard Media". www.shephardmedia.com.
  24. ^ @OfficialGRSE (31 December 2020). "Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd., (GRSE), a leading warship building under the administrative control o..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  25. ^ "GRSE Starts ASW-SWC Corvette Production In Partnership With Larsen & Toubro".
  26. ^ "KEEL LAYING CEREMONY FOR 1st WARSHIP OF ASW SHALLOW WATER CRAFT PROJECT AND 3rd WARSHIP OF SURVEY VESSEL LARGE PROJECT". pib.gov.in.
  27. ^ a b @cslcochin (2021-12-01). "Steel-Cutting ceremony of two Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASWSWC), being built for Indian Navy, was carried out by Commodore V Ganapthy, Warship Production Superintendent, Indian Navy.This is the 4th and 5th in the series of 8 vessels" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  28. ^ "Finnish DA-Group Participates in Indian Navy Project".
  29. ^ "ASW Shallow Water Craft - ASW-SWC". www.globalsecurity.org.
  30. ^ "ASW Shallow Water Craft - ASW-SWC". www.globalsecurity.org.
  31. ^ "Keels laid for Indian Navy's first ASWSWC and third large survey vessel". Janes.com.
  32. ^ Service, Tribune News. "India building warships to hunt down subs close to its shores". Tribuneindia News Service.
  33. ^ @cslcochin (2022-08-30). "Keel laying of the first Anti Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft for indian navy was held. Vice Admiral Kiran Deshmukh, AVSM, VSM, Comptroller of Warship Production & Acquisition laid the keel in the presence of madsnair66, CMD CSL and other senior CSL and Navy officials" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  34. ^ "Steel Cutting Ceremony of Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASWSWCS) For Indian Navy". CSL. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  35. ^ "KEEL LAYING CEREMONY FOR 1st WARSHIP OF ASW SHALLOW WATER CRAFT PROJECT AND 3rd WARSHIP OF SURVEY VESSEL LARGE PROJECT". PIB. 2021-08-06.
  36. ^ Herschelman, Kerry (4 January 2021). "GRSE starts ASW-SWC corvette production in partnership with Larsen & Toubro". Janes.com.
  37. ^ @OfficialGRSE (17 June 2022). "GRSE achieved a rare feat by laying the keels of three vessels -SVL(Yard 3028), ASWSWC (Yard 3030 & 3031) together for the Indian Navy on 17 Jun 22" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  38. ^ @OfficialGRSE (31 December 2020). "Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers tops off year 2020 with "Delivery" of the "Last of Eight LCU Project" & "Start Production" of the First Ship of Eight ASWSWC Project" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  39. ^ "GRSE lays the keel of 5th Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft" (Press release). PIB. 21 December 2021.
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