Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) Project

This topic of “Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) Project” is important from the perspective of the UPSC IAS Examination, which falls under General Studies Portion.

Recent Developments (as of November 2023)

Launch of ‘Amini’: Fourth vessel, highlights naval strength enhancement
Name Significance: Reflects strategic importance of Amini Island, Laksha

Background

Initiation: December 2013
Approval: Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), India
Objective: Replace Abhay-class corvettes
Cost: ₹13,440 crore (2013 value)

Tender and Contracts

Tender Issued: June 2014, to private shipyards
Winning Bidders: Cochin Shipyard (CSL), Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE)
Contract Date: April 2019
Contract Value: ₹6,311 crore for 8 ships each (GRSE and CSL)
Delivery Timeline: 2022-2026

Construction

Start: December 2020 (CSL), December 2020 (GRSE)
Key Milestones: Steel-cutting, keel laying, launching
Current Status: Ongoing construction

Design and Capabilities

Vessels: 16 ASW SWC ships
Builder Diversity: Different designs by CSL and GRSE
Length: 77.6 meters (GRSE), 78 meters (CSL)
Displacement: 700 tons (CSL), 900 tons (GRSE)
Speed: 25 knots
Range: 1,800 nautical miles
Armament: RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launcher, lightweight torpedoes, anti-submarine mines
Propulsion: Water-jet propulsion
Stealth Features: Reduced radar, acoustic, infrared signatures
Crew: 57 (7 officers + 50 sailors)
Sensors: Hull-mounted sonar, towed low-frequency variable-depth sonar