Visakhapatnam: 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 RK 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.
