- P 28 is a project under which four Anti Submarine Warships have to be built indigenously in India by Garden Reach Shipbuilders And Engineers (GRSE) , Kolkata.
- Project 28 was approved in 2003, with construction of the lead ship, INS Kamorta commencing on 12 August 2005.
- Three of the four corvettes, INS Kamorta , INS Kadmatt and INS Kiltan were commissioned in 2014, 2016 and 2017 respectively.
- INS Kavaratti is under construction and slated to be completed by end of 2017.
- The warships are named after the islands in the Lakshadweep archipelago.
- The Kamorta class corvettes are intended to succeed the Kora-class corvette by precedence and Abhay-class corvette by role.
- Project 28’s objective was to enhance localization and development of warship construction industry in India.
FEATURES OF THE SHIPS
- All the ships of this class are built using DMR 249A special grade high-tensile steel , produced by the state-owned Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), and carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) materials.
- The design includes many stealth ship features, including reductions in acoustic signature and vibration of the vessels.
- The overall length of the Kamorta-class corvettes is 109 m .
- The ships displace about 2,500 tonnes at standard load and 3,500 tonnes when fully loaded.
- They are propelled by four Diesel engines, each with a power of 5,096 hp (3,800 kW) in CODAD configuration.
- Combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) is a propulsion system for ships using two diesel engines to power a single propeller shaft.
- The class incorporates some major features including the ‘X’-shaped hull form to improve stealth, a raft-mounted propulsion system to reduce vibration, and an infrared signature suppression system .
X-FORM HULL TO DEFLECT RADAR
- It also includes networks such as the Total Atmospheric Control System (TACS), Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS), Integrated Bridge System (IBS), Battle Damage Control System (BDCS) and Personnel Locator System (PLS).
- The ships also include technology that enables them to fight in Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) warfare scenarios.
- The armament of the class includes a license-built OTO Melara 76 mm Super Rapid Gun.
- There is an option on the ship to include surface-to-air missiles (SAM).
MISCONCEPTIONS
- There is a widespread misconception that the Kamorta is poorly armed for a 3400 ton ship.
- But it is very wrong to look at things like that at face value without understanding the logic and naval doctrine for behind them.
- The Indian Navy needed a ship which has the armament of a 1200 ton corvette and the endurance of a 3400 ton frigate.
- Basically it is not under-armed, but over-sized.
- By 2017, it is expected to receive its SAM package consisting of 16-32 VL-Mica missiles which have a range of 15 km and an active seeker. This missile can intercept sea-skimming and supersonic cruise missiles and protect the Kamorta class from submarine launched cruise missiles.