The INS Kavaratti (P31) is a Kamorta-class anti-submarine warfare (ASW) corvette designed and built under Project 28 of the Indian Navy. INS Kavaratti is the pinnacle of the Indian Navy’s efforts at indigenisation as about 90% of its components have been manufactured in India. The INS Kavaratti was commissioned on 22 October 2020.
The information from this article will be useful in for candidates appearing for upcoming Government Exams.
The topic, ‘INS Kavaratti [p31]’ has been in news and is important from the IAS Exam perspective. UPSC aspirants can read the details about the ship in this article and can also download the notes PDF given in the end.
| Candidates can visit the UPSC Science and Technology page now for more articles related to the General Science segment of the UPSC Exams!!
The following links will further help in preparing for this segment:
|
History and Design of the INS Kavaratti
The Ship was designed by Kolkata-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers. Built at an estimated cost of ₹1,700 crores, the ship takes its name from the capital of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. It is the successor to the erstwhile Arnala-class corvette of the same name which participated in Operation Trident during the Indo-Pak war of 1971 (December 3 – 16, 1971). The Arnala-class INS Karavatti was decommissioned in 1986
The INS Karavatti is the last of four Kamorta-class corvettes under various stages of induction with the Indian Navy.
The other three Kamorta-class corvettes are:
- INS Kamorta
- INS Kadmatt
- INS Kiltan.
The INS Kavaratti was built and designed by the Indian Navy’s Directorate of Naval Design. It has capabilities to fight in a nuclear, biological and chemical environment backed by advanced stealth features and a low radar signature which boosts its anti-submarine warfare capabilities. The ship will be operated by a complement of 10 officers and 106 sailors.
Find the list of Indian Army Exercises in the linked article
Upon the completion of sea trials, the INS Kavaratti was delivered to the Indian Navy on 18th February 2020. The ship was commissioned into the Navy by Indian Army COAS General Manoj Mukund Naravane on 22 October 2020.
Find the complete list of Indian Army COAS Generals through the linked article.
Go through the following links to prepare for the UPSC exam even better –
| INS Vikrant | Indianisation of the India Army | Difference Between Antivirus and Firewall |
| Internal Security Forces in India | Surface to Air Missile | INS Kalavari |
General Characteristics of the INS Kavaratti
INS Kavaratti is to be armed with a range of indigenously developed cutting-edge weapons and sensors, including a medium-range gun, torpedo tube launchers, rocket launchers and a close-in weapon system. The ship will also contain an integrated communication system and an electronic warfare system.
To know more about upcoming Defence Exams, visit tithe linked article
Further specifications of the INS Kavaratti is highlighted in the table below:
General Characteristics of the INS Kavaratti
| Displacement | 3300 tons |
| Length | 109 m (358 ft) |
| Propulsion | 4 × Pielstick 12 PA6 STC Diesel engines
with CODAD, DCNS raft mounted gearbox |
| Speed | 25 knots (46 km/h) |
| Sensors and Procession Systems |
EL/M-2221 STGR fire-control radar BEL Shikari
|
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft Carried | 1 Westland Sea King Mk.42B |
What is Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of underwater warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, submarines, or other platforms, to find, track, and deter, damage, and/or destroy enemy submarines. Such operations are typically carried out to protecting friendly shipping and coastal facilities from submarine attacks and to overcome blockades.
INS Kavaratti: UPSC Notes – Download PDF Here
Successful ASW operations typically involved a combination of sensor and weapon technologies, along with effective deployment strategies and sufficiently trained personnel. Typically, sophisticated sonar equipment is used for first detecting, then classifying, locating, and tracking a target submarine.
Sensors are therefore a key element of ASW. Common weapons for attacking submarines include torpedoes and naval mines, which can both be launched from an array of air, surface, and underwater platforms. ASW capabilities are often considered of significant strategic importance, particularly following provocative instances of unrestricted submarine warfare and the introduction of submarine-launched ballistic missiles, which greatly increased the perceived lethality of submarines.
Find the complete list of Indian Navy Admirals in the linked article.
The advanced features of the INS Kavaratti will be useful due to escalated tensions between India and China as it will help in safeguarding key shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean in case of any threats of incursion by Chinese submarines
FAQ about INS Kavaratti
What is a corvette?
Where is INS Kavaratti commissioned?
Related Links
Comments