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Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft

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The Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) corvettes, are a class of anti-submarine warfare (ASW) vessels currently being built for the Indian Navy, by Cochin Shipyard (CSL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE).[2] They were conceived as a replacement to the ageing Abhay-class corvettes of the Indian Navy, and are designed to undertake ASW duties – including subsurface surveillance in littoral waters, search-and-attack unit (SAU) missions and coordinated anti-submarine warfare operations with naval aircraft.[12] They were also designed to provide secondary duties – including defense against intruding aircraft, minelaying and search-and-rescue (SAR).[13]

Androth, photographed on the day of her launch.
Class overview
NameAnti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC)
Builders
Operators Indian Navy
Preceded by
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)
Built2021-present
Planned16
Building14
Completed12
Active0
General characteristics
TypeCorvette
Displacement
  • GRSE :900 tons[3]
  • CSL :700 tons[4]
Length
  • GRSE :77.6 metres (255 ft) [5]
  • CSL :78 metres (256 ft)[6]
Beam
  • GRSE :10.5 metres (34 ft)[5]
  • CSL :11.26 metres (36.9 ft)[6]
DraughtGRSE : 2.7 metres (8.9 ft)[5]
PropulsionWater-jet propulsion[7]
Speed25 knots (46 km/h) [8]
Range1,800 nautical miles (3,300 km) (at 14 knots (26 km/h)[5]
Complement57 (7 officers + 50 sailors)
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Combat Suite:
  • ASW Combat Suite (presumably the DRDO-developed IAC MOD 'C' combat suite)[9][10]
  • Sonar:
  • DRDO Abhay Hull-Mounted Sonar (HMS)[11]
  • Low Frequency Variable Depth Sonar (LFVDS)[9]
  • Management Systems:
  • Fire Control System (FCS)[2]
  • Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS)[9]
  • Automatic Power Management System (APMS)[9]
  • Battle Damage Control System (BDCS)[9]
Armament
NotesLargest waterjet-powered vessels in the Indian Navy.[8]

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.[12] A total of 16 vessels are being built for the Indian Navy, jointly by CSL and GRSE under the Make in India initiative.[5] The Indian Navy plans to have all 16 vessels in active service by 2026.[5]

History

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Background

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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 ₹13,440 crore (equivalent to ₹230 billion or US$2.7 billion in 2023), to replace the ageing Abhay-class corvettes of the Indian Navy – which were commissioned between 1989 and 1991.[14][15]

In June 2014, the MoD issued a tender, worth USD2.25 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.[16]

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.[17]

Purchase

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On 29 April 2019, the MoD and GRSE signed a contract valued at ₹6,311 crore (equivalent to ₹78 billion or US$940 million in 2023) for eight anti-submarine vessels, to be delivered between 2022 and 2026.[18] 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.[19][20]

On 30 April 2019, the MoD and CSL signed a similar contract, valued at ₹6,311 crore (equivalent to ₹78 billion or US$940 million in 2023) for the construction of the remaining eight vessels – within a deadline of 84 months.[21] 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.[22][23]

Construction

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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.[24]

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.[25][26]

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.[27]

CSL initiated the steel-cutting of the fourth and fifth vessels of the series, on 1 December 2021.[28]

Design

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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.[2]

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.[29][2]

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.[2] 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.[30]

Armament

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INS Mulki and INS Malpe launched

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.[7] The vessels are also equipped with mine rails, which enables the vessel to lay anti-submarine mines along the seabed.[2]

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 "Stabilised Remote Controlled Gun" remote-weapon stations (RWS), equipped with optronic control systems.[2]

Sensors

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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).[2] The LFVDS system is being procured from a partnership firm formed by Indian CFF Fluid Control Ltd. and German Atlas Elektronik. The system will be manufactured in India and supplied to GRSE and CSL, the firms engaged in construction of the ships.[31] The hull-mounted sonar is the Abhay system an advanced active-cum-passive integrated sonar system designed and developed by NPOL, DRDO and manufactured by BEL.[32][33][34][35]

Capabilities

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INS Arnala launch

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).[2] In addition, the vessels also possess the capability to interdict and destroy subsurface targets, within the vicinity coastal waters.[36] The vessels can also be deployed for search-and-rescue (SAR) missions in littoral waters.[37]

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.[38]

Ships of the class

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Name Pennant Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Delivery Commissioning Status
  Indian Navy
Mahe class
Mahe 523 Cochin Shipyard 30 August 2022[39] 30 November 2023 [40][41] Early 2025 (expected)[42] Launched
Malwan 524 21 February 2023[43]
Mangrol 525
Malpe 526 8 December 2023[44] 09 September 2024[45]
Mulki 527
Magdala 528 16 December 2024[42]
529 Under Construction[46][28]
530
Arnala class
Arnala P68 3029 GRSE 6 August 2021[47] 20 December 2022[48] 2025 (Planned) Undergoing harbour trials
Anjadip P73 3030 17 June 2022 [49] 13 June 2023[50] Launched
Amini P75 3031 16 November 2023[51]
Abhay 3032 13 June 2023[50] 25 October 2024[52]
Agray P36 3033 31 December 2022 [53] 13 March 2024[54]
3034 10 May 2024[55] Under Construction
Androth P69 3035 21 December 2021[56] 21 March 2023[57] Launched
Akshay P35 3036 31 December 2022 [53] 13 March 2024[54]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "GRSE, CSL starts production of ASW-SWC Corvettes".
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC)".
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ "Government gives GRSE contract to build 8 Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts - GKToday". www.gktoday.in.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "GRSE starts ASW-SWC corvette production in partnership with Larsen & Toubro". Janes.com.
  6. ^ a b "Details of Indian Anti-submarine Corvette For Coastal Waters | Indian Politics". 16 November 2018.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ a b c "Details of GRSE's small anti-submarine corvette emerge - Shephard Media". www.shephardmedia.com.
  9. ^ a b c d e http://grse.in/eoi/EOI_ASW_SWC_R1.pdf [dead link‍]
  10. ^ "Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd.- Government of India Undertaking - Tender Archive". grse.in.
  11. ^ "Eyes and Ears Underwater". Force India. Retrieved 2024-08-23.
  12. ^ a b "Cochin Shipyard from India holds steel cutting ceremony of Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts". Navy Recognition. December 2020.
  13. ^ "Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASWSWC)". May 9, 2019.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ "MoD clears Navy plans to get 16 shallow-water anti-sub vessels", The Tribune, 25 December 2013, retrieved 27 May 2015
  16. ^ "India issues $2.25bn tender to procure ASW shallow-water craft". June 18, 2014.
  17. ^ "Garden Reach Shipbuilders set to win ₹5,400-crore Navy order". @businessline. 16 January 2018.
  18. ^ Himatsingka, Anuradha (29 April 2019). "GRSE signs contract for 8 anti-submarine warfare shallow water crafts for Indian Navy". The Economic Times.
  19. ^ Himatsingka, Anuradha (29 April 2019). "GRSE signs contract for 8 anti-submarine warfare shallow water crafts for Indian Navy". The Economic Times.
  20. ^ "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.
  21. ^ "GRSE Signs Contract for 08 Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Watercraft". psuwatch.com. 29 April 2019.
  22. ^ "Cochin Shipyard gets Rs 6,311 crore contract for anti-submarine warfare ships". Business Today. 30 April 2019.
  23. ^ "Cochin Shipyard gets ₹6,311 crore contract for anti-submarine warfare ships". mint. April 30, 2019.
  24. ^ "Indian ASW corvette programme cuts first steel - Shephard Media". www.shephardmedia.com.
  25. ^ @OfficialGRSE (31 December 2020). "Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd., (GRSE), a leading warship building under the administrative control o..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  26. ^ "GRSE Starts ASW-SWC Corvette Production In Partnership With Larsen & Toubro".
  27. ^ "KEEL LAYING CEREMONY FOR 1st WARSHIP OF ASW SHALLOW WATER CRAFT PROJECT AND 3rd WARSHIP OF SURVEY VESSEL LARGE PROJECT". pib.gov.in.
  28. ^ 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.
  29. ^ "Finnish DA-Group Participates in Indian Navy Project".
  30. ^ "ASW Shallow Water Craft - ASW-SWC". www.globalsecurity.org.
  31. ^ "Indian firm ties up with German major Atlas Elektronik for indigenous Sonar project". ANI News. 2024-06-13. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  32. ^ "Technologies and Products - Abhay". www.drdo.gov.in. Retrieved 2024-08-23.
  33. ^ "Navy inducts 4 types of indigenously developed sonars". The Times of India. 2016-11-18. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-08-23.
  34. ^ "Navy inducts four indigenously developed sonars systems". Hindustan Times. 2016-11-18. Retrieved 2024-08-23.
  35. ^ "Indigenously Developed Sonars". Press Information Bureau. 2016-11-18. Retrieved 2024-08-23.
  36. ^ "ASW Shallow Water Craft - ASW-SWC". www.globalsecurity.org.
  37. ^ "Keels laid for Indian Navy's first ASWSWC and third large survey vessel". Janes.com.
  38. ^ Service, Tribune News. "India building warships to hunt down subs close to its shores". Tribuneindia News Service.
  39. ^ @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.
  40. ^ Bureau, The Hindu (2023-11-30). "Three anti-submarine warfare ships for Indian Navy launched at Cochin Shipyard". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2023-11-30. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  41. ^ "SIMULTANEOUS LAUNCH OF 'MAHE, MALVAN AND MANGROL', FIRST THREE SHIPS OF ASW SWC (CSL) PROJECT ON 30 NOV 23 AT CSL, KOCHI". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  42. ^ a b "KEEL LAYING OF SIXTH SHIP (BY 528, MAGDALA) OF ASW SWC PROJECT AT CSL, KOCHI". Press Information Bureau. 16 December 2024. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  43. ^ "KEEL LAYING OF SECOND SHIP (BY 524, MALWAN) AND THIRD SHIP (BY 525, MANGROL), AT M/S CSL, KOCHI, ON 21 FEB 23". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  44. ^ "KEEL LAYING OF FOURTH SHIP (BY 526, MALPE) AND FIFTH SHIP (BY 527, MULKI) OF ASW SWC PROJECT AT CSL, KOCHI ON 08 DEC 23". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  45. ^ "Indian Navy launches Anti-Submarine Warfare vessels Malpe and Mulki at Cochin Shipyard". The Economic Times. 2024-09-10. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
  46. ^ "Steel Cutting Ceremony of Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASWSWCS) For Indian Navy". CSL. 1 December 2020. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  47. ^ "KEEL LAYING CEREMONY FOR 1st WARSHIP OF ASW SHALLOW WATER CRAFT PROJECT AND 3rd WARSHIP OF SURVEY VESSEL LARGE PROJECT". PIB. 2021-08-06.
  48. ^ Shukla, Ajai (2022-12-20). "Indigenously built INS Arnala touches the waters of Bay of Bengal". www.business-standard.com. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  49. ^ @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.
  50. ^ a b "LAUNCH OF 'ANJADIP' THIRD SHIP OF ASW SWC (GRSE) AND KEEL LAYING OF 7TH SHIP OF ASW SWC PROJECT AT M/s L&T, KATTUPALLI ON 13 JUN 23". Press Information Bureau (Press release). Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  51. ^ "LAUNCH OF 'AMINI', FOURTH SHIP OF ASW SWC (GRSE) PROJECT ON 16 NOV 23 AT M/s L&T, KATTUPALLI". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
  52. ^ "LAUNCH OF 'ABHAY', SEVENTH SHIP OF ASW SWC (GRSE) PROJECT". Press Information Bureau. 2024-10-25. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  53. ^ a b "KEEL LAYING BY SHRI GIRIDHAR ARAMANE, DEFENCE SECRETARY,FOR TWO WARSHIPS OF ASW SWC PROJECT AT GRSE, KOLKATA, ON 31 DEC 22". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  54. ^ a b "LAUNCH OF 'AGRAY' AND 'AKSHAY' FIFTH AND SIXTH SHIP OF ASW SWC (GRSE) PROJECT ON 13 MAR 24 AT M/S GRSE KOLKATA". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  55. ^ "KEEL LAYING OF 8th ASW SWC (ex-GRSE) ON 10 MAY 24 AT M/S GRSE KOLKATA". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  56. ^ "GRSE lays the keel of 5th Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft" (Press release). PIB. 21 December 2021.
  57. ^ "LAUNCH OF 'ANDROTH', SECOND SHIP OF ASW SWC (GRSE) PROJECT ON 21 MAR 23 AT M/s GRSE, KOLKATA". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
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