India’s ASW Shallow Water Craft Project Progresses Amidst Uncertainties.
‘Anjadip’, the 3rd of eight ships of ASW Shallow Water Craft (SWC) Project being built by M/s GRSE for Indian Navy, was launched on 13 Jun 23 at M/s L&T, Kattupalli. The Launch Ceremony was presided over by VAdm R B Pandit, C-in-C (SFC). In keeping with the naval maritime tradition, Smt Priya Pandit launched the ship to the chanting of invocation from Atharva Veda. The ship has been named Anjadip to signify the strategic maritime importance accorded to the island of Anjadip, located off Karwar. The island is connected to the mainland by a breakwater and is part of INS Kadamba. On completion of the event VAdm R B Pandit also laid the keel for the 7th ASW SWC ship.
The contract for building eight ASW SWC ships was signed between MoD and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata on 29 Apr 19. As per the build strategy, four ships are being built at GRSE, Kolkata and construction of balance four ships has been sub-contracted to M/s L&T Shipbuilding, Kattupalli. Arnala class of ships will replace the in-service Abhay class ASW Corvettes of Indian Navy and are designed to undertake anti-submarine operations in coastal waters, Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO), and Mine Laying operations including subsurface surveillance in littoral waters. The 77 m long ASW SWC ships have a displacement of 900 tons with a maximum speed of 25 knots and endurance of 1800 NM.
Launch of three ships of the same class in a span of six months reinforces our resolve towards indigenous shipbuilding as part of the Government’s vision of ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat’. The first ship of the project is planned to be delivered to Indian Navy by Dec 23. The ASW SWC ships will have over 80% indigenous content, thereby ensuring that large scale defence production is executed by Indian manufacturing units, generating employment and capability enhancement within the country.
Naval News Comments: Status of ASW SWC project
In April 2019, both GRSE and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) had signed contracts to build eight ASW SWC ships each. The design of the ASW SWC built by each yard are different. These will be the largest waterjet propelled ships of the Indian Navy.
The project has faced delays due to supply chain issues that has led to CSL having laid down just three ships to date, starting in August 2022. CSL explained some reasons for the delay while presenting its financial results at the end of May, providing some details regarding the equipment affected.
While over 80% of the ship will be indigenous, one of the main imported systems is the engine set. These are being procured from a European nation but deliveries have been delayed due to export related issues of some subcomponents. Installation of engines have subsequently been delayed from February 2023 to June.
Launch of Anjadip, the third ASW SWC. Photo by Indian Navy.
Another major import would have been that of two “major sensors”, likely to be the hull mounted sonar and low frequency variable depth towed array sonar which provides ASW capability to the vessels. CSL had ordered one of these from a European nation while finalizing a contract with another European nation for the other sensor.
Earlier this year, the MoD decided after prolonged discussions that both of these sensors will be made in India. One of the sensors, expected to be the hull mounted sonar, will be supplied by state-owned Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for all 16 ships. For the second sensor, four will be supplied by BEL based on a system to be developed by DRDO while the rest will be developed by other Indian industries under the Make in India scheme. This sensor will not be linked to the delivery of these ships as it is under development.
CSL plans to launch all three laid down ships in November 2023 and deliver them by November 2024. GRSE has been unaffected by the engine issue, with the two ships planned to be launched later in September having their engines delivered and installed.
The shipyards plan to deliver all sixteen ships by 2027. However, any delays in development and installation of the second sensor could render these ships suboptimal for their intended role. This is an issue faced earlier by the larger Kamorta class ASW corvettes made by GRSE.
And who launches a HWT from an aircraft?
