Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft Explained

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). They were conceived as a replacement to the ageing s 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.[1] They were also designed to provide secondary duties – including defense against intruding aircraft, minelaying and search-and-rescue (SAR).[2]

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

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 ₹13,440 crore, to replace the ageing Abhay-class corvettes of the Indian Navy – which were commissioned between 1989 and 1991.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5]

Purchase

On 29 April 2019, the MoD and GRSE signed a contract valued at for eight anti-submarine vessels, to be delivered between 2022 and 2026.[6] 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.[7] [8]

On 30 April 2019, the MoD and CSL signed a similar contract, valued at for the construction of the remaining eight vessels – within a deadline of 84 months.[9] 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.[10] [11]

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.[12]

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.[13] [14]

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.[15]

CSL initiated the steel-cutting of the fourth and fifth vessels of the series, on 1 December 2021.[16]

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.

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.[17]

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. 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.[18]

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

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.

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). 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.[19]

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). In addition, the vessels also possess the capability to interdict and destroy subsurface targets, within the vicinity coastal waters.[20] The vessels can also be deployed for search-and-rescue (SAR) missions in littoral waters.[21]

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.[22]

Ships of the class

NamePennantYard NoBuilderLaid downLaunchedDeliveryCommissioningStatus
Mahe class
Mahe523Cochin Shipyard30 August 2022[23] 30 November 2023 [24] [25] November 2024 (expected)[26] Launched
Malwan52421 February 2023[27]
Mangrol525
Malpe5268 December 2023[28] Under Construction[29]
Mulki527
528
529
530
Arnala class
ArnalaP683029GRSE6 August 2021[30] 20 December 2022[31] June 2024 (Planned)[32] Undergoing harbour trials
AnjadipP73303017 June 2022 [33] 13 June 2023[34] Launched
AminiP75303116 November 2023[35]
303213 June 2023Under Construction
Agray303331 December 2022 13 March 2024[36] Launched
303410 May 2024[37] Under Construction
AndrothP69303521 December 2021[38] 21 March 2023[39] Launched
Akshay303631 December 2022 [40] 13 March 2024

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cochin Shipyard from India holds steel cutting ceremony of Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts. Navy Recognition. December 2020 .
  2. Web site: Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASWSWC). May 9, 2019.
  3. News: Four major acquisitions for the Navy and the Army approved. Bhatnagar. Gaurav Vivek. 2013-12-24. The Hindu. 2017-10-17. en-IN. 0971-751X.
  4. Web site: India issues $2.25bn tender to procure ASW shallow-water craft. June 18, 2014.
  5. Web site: Garden Reach Shipbuilders set to win ₹5,400-crore Navy order. @businessline. 16 January 2018 .
  6. News: Himatsingka . Anuradha . GRSE signs contract for 8 anti-submarine warfare shallow water crafts for Indian Navy . The Economic Times . 29 April 2019.
  7. News: GRSE signs contract for 8 anti-submarine warfare shallow water crafts for Indian Navy. Anuradha. Himatsingka. The Economic Times. 29 April 2019 .
  8. Web site: 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.
  9. Web site: GRSE Signs Contract for 08 Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Watercraft. psuwatch.com. 29 April 2019 .
  10. Web site: Cochin Shipyard gets Rs 6,311 crore contract for anti-submarine warfare ships. Business Today. 30 April 2019 .
  11. Web site: Cochin Shipyard gets ₹6,311 crore contract for anti-submarine warfare ships. April 30, 2019. mint.
  12. Web site: Indian ASW corvette programme cuts first steel - Shephard Media. www.shephardmedia.com.
  13. 1344612952377233409. OfficialGRSE. Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd., (GRSE), a leading warship building under the administrative control o.... 31 December 2020.
  14. Web site: GRSE Starts ASW-SWC Corvette Production In Partnership With Larsen & Toubro.
  15. Web site: KEEL LAYING CEREMONY FOR 1st WARSHIP OF ASW SHALLOW WATER CRAFT PROJECT AND 3rd WARSHIP OF SURVEY VESSEL LARGE PROJECT. pib.gov.in.
  16. 1466022114914275331. cslcochin. 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. 2021-12-01.
  17. Web site: Finnish DA-Group Participates in Indian Navy Project.
  18. Web site: ASW Shallow Water Craft - ASW-SWC. www.globalsecurity.org.
  19. Web site: 2024-06-13 . Indian firm ties up with German major Atlas Elektronik for indigenous Sonar project. . 2024-06-14 . ANI News.
  20. Web site: ASW Shallow Water Craft - ASW-SWC. www.globalsecurity.org.
  21. Web site: Keels laid for Indian Navy's first ASWSWC and third large survey vessel. Janes.com.
  22. Web site: India building warships to hunt down subs close to its shores. Tribune News. Service. Tribuneindia News Service.
  23. 1564616627874037761. cslcochin. 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.. 2022-08-30.
  24. News: Bureau . The Hindu . 2023-11-30 . Three anti-submarine warfare ships for Indian Navy launched at Cochin Shipyard . en-IN . The Hindu . 2023-11-30 . 0971-751X.
  25. Web site: SIMULTANEOUS LAUNCH OF ‘MAHE, MALVAN AND MANGROL’, FIRST THREE SHIPS OF ASW SWC (CSL) PROJECT ON 30 NOV 23 AT CSL, KOCHI . 2023-12-08 . pib.gov.in.
  26. Web site: 2023-06-06 . Transcript of Investor/ Analyst Conference Call . Cochin Shipyard . 11.
  27. Web site: KEEL LAYING OF SECOND SHIP (BY 524, MALWAN) AND THIRD SHIP (BY 525, MANGROL), AT M/S CSL, KOCHI, ON 21 FEB 23 . 2023-02-21 . pib.gov.in.
  28. Web site: 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 . 2023-12-08 . pib.gov.in.
  29. Web site: 1 December 2020 . Steel Cutting Ceremony of Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASWSWCS) For Indian Navy . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20210121214132/https://cochinshipyard.com/news/view/37 . 21 January 2021 . 2 December 2020 . CSL.
  30. Web site: KEEL LAYING CEREMONY FOR 1st WARSHIP OF ASW SHALLOW WATER CRAFT PROJECT AND 3rd WARSHIP OF SURVEY VESSEL LARGE PROJECT. PIB. 2021-08-06.
  31. Web site: Shukla . Ajai . 2022-12-20 . Indigenously built INS Arnala touches the waters of Bay of Bengal . 2023-03-21 . www.business-standard.com . en.
  32. News: GRSE . 21 March 2024 . GRSE Analyst meet- March 2024 .
  33. OfficialGRSE. 1537789888804057088. 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.. 17 June 2022.
  34. 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 . 2023-06-13 . Press Information Bureau.
  35. Web site: LAUNCH OF ‘AMINI’, FOURTH SHIP OF ASW SWC (GRSE) PROJECT ON 16 NOV 23 AT M/s L&T, KATTUPALLI . 2023-11-16 . pib.gov.in.
  36. Web site: LAUNCH OF 'AGRAY' AND 'AKSHAY' FIFTH AND SIXTH SHIP OF ASW SWC (GRSE) PROJECT ON 13 MAR 24 AT M/S GRSE KOLKATA . 2024-03-13 . pib.gov.in.
  37. Web site: KEEL LAYING OF 8th ASW SWC (ex-GRSE) ON 10 MAY 24 AT M/S GRSE KOLKATA . 2024-05-10 . pib.gov.in.
  38. GRSE lays the keel of 5th Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft. PIB. 21 December 2021.
  39. Web site: LAUNCH OF 'ANDROTH', SECOND SHIP OF ASW SWC (GRSE) PROJECT ON 21 MAR 23 AT M/s GRSE, KOLKATA . 2023-03-21 . pib.gov.in.
  40. Web site: KEEL LAYING BY SHRI GIRIDHAR ARAMANE, DEFENCE SECRETARY,FOR TWO WARSHIPS OF ASW SWC PROJECT AT GRSE, KOLKATA, ON 31 DEC 22 . 2022-12-31 . pib.gov.in.

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