Indian Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) has held a steel-cutting ceremony for two anti-submarine warfare shallow water crafts (ASWSWCs) built for the Indian Navy.
The steel cutting ceremony is one of the initial milestones in the vessel construction process. This is the fourth and fifth vessel in the series of a total of 8 vessels, according to the officials.
Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), signed the contract for construction and supply of eight ASWSWCs for the Indian Navy, which was won through a competitive bidding process, on 30 April 2019. The order value for these units is ₹6,300 Crores (approx $800,00). The project is to be completed in the next three months.
These technologically advanced vessels are designed and engineered indigenously and will be equipped with various payloads to cater to the vessels’ functions. They will feature new technologies to avoid detection by submarines and other surveillance systems. A significant part of the payloads and solutions will be from Indian firms.
Furthermore, they are capable of full-scale sub-surface surveillance of coastal waters and co-ordinated ASW operations with aircraft. In addition to this, they will have the capability to interdict/destroy sub-surface targets in coastal waters, according to the company.
They can also be deployed for day and night search and rescue in coastal areas. In their secondary role, they will be capable to sew intruding aircraft and lay mines in the sea bed. The vessels will be equipped with highly advanced integrated platform management systems, propulsion machinery, auxiliary machinery, power generation and distribution machinery and damage control machinery.
The ASWSWCs will be built to international classification society rules, the shipbuilder said.
Last December, the company held a steel-cutting ceremony for the first vessel.