INS Kiltan commissioned into Indian Navy in Visakhapatnam

Indigenously-built anti-submarine warfare stealth corvette INS Kiltan was commissioned an into the Indian Navy at the Eastern Naval Command (Naval Dockyard) in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
It is India’s first major warship to have a superstructure of carbon fibre composite material resulting in improved stealth features, lower top weight and maintenance costs. About 81% of the ship is indigenous and it is well equipped to fight in Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) warfare conditions.

INS Kiltan

INS Kiltan is third of four Kamorta-class corvettes being built under Project 28. It is latest indigenous warship after Shivalik Class, Kolkata Class and sister ships INS Kamorta and INS Kadmatt of Indian Navy’s arsenal. It is also first major warship to have undertaken sea trials of all major weapons and sensors as a pilot project.
The stealth corvette derives its name from one of islands in Aminidivi group of strategically located Lakshadweep and Minicoy group of islands. It has been designed indigenously by Indian Navy’s in-house body Directorate of Naval Design under Project 28 (Kamorta Class).
Features: It is 109 meters in length and 14 meters at beam and is propelled by four diesel engines to achieve speeds in excess of 25 knots with an endurance of 3450 nautical miles. It has displacement capacity of 3500 tonnes and has installed propulsion and auxiliary systems that provides very low radiated underwater noise feature, required for anti-submarine warfare.
Stealth features: Enhanced stealth features of the ship have been achieved by ‘X’ form of Hull, full beam superstructure, inclined ship sides and use of InfraRed Signature Suppression (IRSS) system designed by NSTL for cooling the Engine and Generator exhausts.
Weapons and Sensors suite: The ship hosts predominantly indigenous cutting-edge weapons and sensors suite which includes heavyweight torpedoes, ASW rockets, missile decoy rockets (Chaff), advanced Electronic Support Measure system, 76 mm calibre Medium Range gun and two multi-barrel 30 mm guns as close-in-weapon system (CIWS) with dedicated fire control systems, most advanced bow mounted sonar and air surveillance radar Revathi. In future, it will be installed with short range SAM system and carry an integral ASW helicopter.
Historical Legacy: The ship also boasts of proud legacy of the erstwhile Petya Class ship of same name ‘Kiltan (P79)’ built in the USSR which had actively participated as Task Force Commander in ‘Operation Trident’ during 1971 India-Pakistan war.

Month: Current Affairs - October, 2017