IMO, there won't be any need for follow on orders. They are already 16 in number. 8 for East and 8 for West.
Corvettes of Indian Navy : News and Discussions
- Thread starter Ashwin
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ASW is a very resource Intensive domain. A&N, and our large coast lines and the number of Pakistani, Bangladeshi and possibly Chinese submarines which may be in IOR, we need a lot more.
Shallow Water ASW Corvette INS 'Arnala' launched by #GRSE at #LnT facilities.
— News IADN (@NewsIADN) December 20, 2022
This is 1st of the 08 ships being built by GRSE. Another 08 are under construction by CSL.
Arnala class will replace Abhay Class.#IndianNavy#IADN pic.twitter.com/wqhHUaQFAF
Launched
L&T is building 5 ASWSWC out of the total 8. Yard numbers are:
3029
3030
3031
3032*
3034*
While GRSE is building the rest 3. Yard numbers are:
3035
3033
3036
3029
3030
3031
3032*
3034*
While GRSE is building the rest 3. Yard numbers are:
3035
3033
3036
Keel laid for 02 Arnala Class Corvettes by #GRSE
— News IADN (@NewsIADN) December 31, 2022
Called Shallow Water Anti-Submarine Warfare Corvettes, a total of 16 are on order by Indian Navy. 08 each from CSL and GRSE.#IADN pic.twitter.com/Enx0AetIpr
The sensors can be used to find the mines. The Corvettes can even lay mines. But I don't think there's any method for them to defuse them.
Then what's the point of detection ? There must be a way of defusing those mines which raises the question -
Are these boats equipped with a non magnetic hull ? Arguably this was the sticking point between us not concluding the agreement with that South Korean dockyard for the MCMV tender . If not why not ?
Secondly assuming these vessels do have the ability to detect & defuse mines why exactly are those MCMVs needed ?
I mean the very fact that the entire MCMV tender has gone into cold storage whereas this is progressing fast should be some indicator .
Someone pointed out to me that the ASW SWC design is specifically meant for ASW operations in shallow waters.
For Minesweepeing duties, a better option is a bigger OPV with Sonars and autonomous vehicles operations capability. That will allow the ship to operate both near coast and deep waters demining.
And Autonomous or remotely operated vessels deployed from OPV can in theory cover a large scale of duties of Minesweepeing.
But thats a compromise. Say you need to prepare a landing, where the waters are heavily mined, then conventional Minesweepers with non magnetic hulls will be needed.
But all this is talk. The guys in Navy are inspired from IAF when it comes to two projects. P75I and MCMV.
And in immediate and near future we are fcu...
NEW YEAR GIFT – MAJOR PRODUCTION MILESTONES ACHIEVED BY GRSE : ONE FPV DELIVERED AND TWIN KEELS OF ASWSWCs LAID#GRSE #indigenisation #atmanirbharbharat #Excellence #RMOIndia #MoD #Defence #indiannavy #shipbuilding #shipbuilders #tvasta pic.twitter.com/Vcy7BJVf4F
— GRSE - Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (@OfficialGRSE) December 31, 2022
Yes and where would one normally find shallow waters if not by the coast or to be more precise near ports.
These could also be part of the ASWSWCs assuming they're equipped with de mining capabilities. Why would you need deep waters demining capabilities ? Mines by their vary nature are laid either at choke points in passages between islands where the waters are shallow or at least not deep or in harbours & ports .
I'm guessing they're independent of these construction activities & can be procured separately . Hopefully these corvettes come with facilities to store & launch them .
Which is why I asked if these vessels have non magnetic hulls . Ideally they should be if they're hunting subs for one of the defences of subs is also to launch a mine
There's something else going on with the MCMV project which we aren't aware of . It's uncharacteristic of the IN to let such a huge lacunae in their area of responsibility go unaddressed over such a long period of time without mitigation or corresponding remedial measures .
Project -75I is jinxed initially thanks to the government's shenanigans & now because of the IN's shenanigans . Latest OSINT on Twitter & YT defence channels are claiming the MoD has renewed it's invitation to Japan to participate in the tender.
Minesweepeing is not limited to close to shore operations only.
There isn't a lot of space on these Arnala ships. Minesweepeing will require lots of equipment.
A full fledged Minesweeper itself is as heavy as 700 tons.
SAAB had atleast accepted the invite. Japanese submarines has critical systems especially in its combat management system from USA.
A few kms out into the sea. I don't see MCMVs more than 50 kms away at sea from the coast. Unless I haven't understood the concept of mine warfare or you can help me understand it .
Strangely enough two designs of ASWSWC & both with different classes - 700 & 900 Tons category.
Subtract the weightage of the equipment from the rest of the paraphernalia like the propulsion, weight of the frame etc. I don't think it should exceed 100 tonnes, say between 100-150 tonnes. Any AUV woult be towed I'm guessing even for the MCMVs.
We have our own CMS . The Japanese basically want to sell us the whole submarine not part with the designs & act as consultants plus super suppliers. They've got other hang ups as well. I believe they raised quality issues of the Indian submarine building industry the last time the issue of their participation came up for the Project -75I tender. Whether this was specific to MDL or not, I've no clue.
It will need to go for offensive operations also. Say we need to conduct amphibious landings on Pakistani coast. They will mine the waters upto great distances.
Then there's the issue of operations in A&N region also.
Range into deeper waters for MCMV and range along the coast for ASW Corvettes.
In theory we can take the basic hull of Arnala class , strip off the ASW equipment and add NASM-SR/MR missiles and make it a missile vessel too.
That can be done for MCMV equipment too.
But I don't think two sets of equipment will fit together.