The fourth and last anti-submarine warfare ship being made for the Indian Navy was launched in Kolkata on Tuesday, adding a feather to the cap of domestic manufacturing for the naval forces.
Kavaratti, the corvette which is 90 per cent indigenous, was launched at a glittering ceremony.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh lauded the contribution made by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE), Kolkata, in meeting the growing requirements of the navy.
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral RK Dhowan acknowledged the excellent work done by the yard for contributing towards achieving the Indian Navy's dream of transforming itself from a "Buyers Navy" to "Builders Navy".
The four ships of Project-28 built by GRSE have been designed indigenously by the Directorate of Naval Design, New Delhi, and bear testimony to the acclaimed legacy of naval designers.
Kavaratti is the last of four ASW class stealth corvettes being built for the Indian Navy under Project 28. The other three ships of the same class are INS Kamrota, Kadmatt and Kiltan.
Of the three, Kamrota was delivered to the navy in 2014, and has been commissioned. Kadmatt and Kitan are expected to be delivered between 2015 and 2017.
The 3,300-tonne Kavaratti can reach a speed of over 25 knots. An X-shaped hull, full beam superstructure, inclined ship sides and an Infra Red Signature Suppression (IRSS) system increase the stealth feature of the ship.
Navy officials said the weapons systems on the ship are largely indigenous.
The Project-28 ships also have Total Atmospheric Control System (TACS), capable of fighting nuclear, biological and chemical warfare conditions.
