INS Kadmatt commissioned; Navy Chief RK Dhowan stresses on indigenisation

The country's second indigenous stealth anti-submarine warfare corvette 'INS Kadmatt' was commissioned on Thursday in another milestone for the Navy in self-reliance and giving a boost to the ambitious "Make in India" campaign. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R K Dhowan said the Indian Navy will in future build all types of ships including those designed for warfare indigenously in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Make in India" initiative.

The corvette, which is equipped to fight in Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) warfare conditions, was indigenously designed by the Navy s in-house organisation, Directorate of Naval Design and constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited, Kolkata at Naval Dockyard here. It is named after one of the large islands amongst the Lakshadweep group of islands. About 90 per cent of the ship is indigenous, Admiral Dhowan said. "Commissioning of Kadmatt is a another milestone in self -reliance of Indian Navy," Admiral Dhowan said addressing a gathering after the commissioning ceremony. "Now Indian Navy is builders navy not buyers Navy." The Indian Navy has planned, in another 15 years, to strengthen science and technology and build warships indigenously in association with the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) and public sector shipyards and private companies, he said.

Speaking to mediamen, he said 'Kadmatt' will take part in international fleet review scheduled here from February 4-8. "Commissioning of Kadmatt will add a new dimension to the ASW capability of Indian Navy and in particular, the Eastern Fleet. The multifarious missions that can be undertaken by the ship truly reflect the enhanced multi-dimensional capability of the Indian Navy," Dhowan said. He said the unique feature of the ship is the high-level indigenisation incorporated in the production. 'Kadmatt' is the latest indigenous ship after Shivalik class, Kolkata class and INS Kamorta wherein a plethora of weapons and sensors have been integrated to provide a 'Common Operational Picture (COP)'.

The ship has many state-of-the-art equipment which include the rail-less helo traversing system and foldable hangar door for integral ASW helicopter which not only increases the strike capability of the ship but also enhances the detection capability manifold. Dhowan said the ship's weapons and sensors suite is predominantly indigenous and showcases the nation's growing capability in this niche area.  The ship also boasts of an advanced 3D Medium Range Air/Surface Surveillance Radar developed by DRDO and produced by Bharat Electronics.

The radar has an integrated IFF system co-mounted on a planar array antenna capable of tracking air/surface targets hundred of kilometers away and differentiates between friendly and enemy units. The ship is also designed to carry an anti-submarine helicopter which not only increases the strike capability of the ship but also enhances the detection capability manifold, Admiral Dhowan said. It has a potent strike capability with guns, close-in weapon system, heavy weight torpedoes and anti-submarine rockets. Very soon the ship will also be fitted with vertically launched Surface to Air Missiles to neutralise enemy missiles, an official release said.

The ship will be manned by 13 officers and 180 sailors with Commander Mahesh Chandra Moudgil at the helm as her first Commanding Officer. It would be an integral part of the Eastern Fleet under the Eastern Naval Command. As an ASW corvette, the ship carries on the legacy of her predecessor INS Kadmatt (P78), which served the Indian Navy for 24 years from 23 December 1968 - 30 November 1992, Dhowan said. Earlier, he inspected the guard of honour, took salute and also unveiled the ship's plaque.

Flag Officer Commanding-in Chef, Eastern Naval Command Vice-Admiral Satish Soni said the Indian Navy has had a long association with the GRSE, which delivered the first warship INS Ajay in 1961. Chairman and Managing Director of the GRSE Rear Admiral A K Verma (retired) said with the latest technology the shipyard had been constructing 95 warships and has already delivered 62 of them to the Indian Navy.