Explained: Next-generation Corvettes, and the combat edge Navy seeks through them

What is the News?

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has given the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the procurement of next-generation Corvettes for the Indian Navy at an approximate cost of Rs 36,000 crore.

What are Corvettes?

Corvettes are the smallest class of naval ships, and it falls below the warship class of a frigate. 

They are highly agile ships and are categorized as missile boats, anti-submarine ships, coastal patrol crafts and fast attack naval vessels. 

What kind of Corvettes does the Indian Navy possess?

The Indian Navy at present has the Kamorta Class Corvettes which are also known as Project 28. 

These ships have an anti-submarine role and are manufactured at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers in Kolkata.

The four Kamorta Class Corvettes that the Indian Navy possesses are named INS Kamorta, INS Kadmatt, INS Kiltan and INS Kavaratti. The first of these was commissioned in 2014 and the last one in 2020.

What new capabilities will the new generation of Corvettes have?

The next-generation Corvettes will be manufactured for various roles like surveillance missions, escort operations, deterrence, surface action group operations, search and attack and coastal defence.

These roles will be in addition to the anti-submarine roles being already performed by the existing Corvettes in the Navy.

These corvettes would also contribute to further the government’s initiative of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).

Source: The post is based on the article “Explained: Next-generation Corvettes, and the combat edge Navy seeks through them” published in Indian Express on 11th June 2022.