Defence Minister commissions INS Kiltan

Visakhapatnam: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday commissioned the indigenously-built anti-submarine warfare stealth corvette INS Kiltan here, describing it as a "shining armour" in the country's 'Make in India' programme.

Kiltan is the latest indigenous warship after Shivalik class, Kolkata class and sister ships INS Kamorta and INS Kadmatt to have joined the Indian Navy's arsenal wherein a plethora of weapons and sensors have been integrated to provide a Common Operational Picture (COP), an official release said.

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, it said.

Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Naval Command H S Bisht and other senior officers attended the commissioning of INS Kiltan at the Naval Dockyard at the Eastern Naval Command here.

On the occasion, Sitharaman said the Centre was committed to achieving self-reliance in the defence sector on the concept of 'Make in India' and was taking all measures in this regard.

"INS Kiltan strengthens our defence system and will be a shining armour in our 'Make in India' programme as it is totally built here," the defence minister said.

"The Union government is committed to achieving self- reliance in the defence sector and prepared to provide any amount of funds in this direction," she said. The stealth corvette has been designed by the Indian Navy's in-house body, the Directorate of Naval Design under Project 28 (Kamorta Class).

INS Kiltan is also the first major warship to have undertaken sea trials of all major weapons and sensors as a pilot project and is ready to be operationally deployed on the day of joining the Indian Navy.

In the future, it would also be installed with short-range SAM system and carry an integral ASW helicopter.

Sitharaman said INS Kiltan marks another milestone in the Indian Navy's plans for modernisation and enhancement of capability.

Admiral Lanba said keeping with the Indian Navy's commitment to 'Make in India', INS Kiltan joins the long list of warships being built indigenously.

"INS Kiltan is the third of the Kamorta class and demonstrates our desire to innovate and improve," he said.

The ship will considerably augment the fleet's war-fighting potential in general and anti-submarine warfare capabilities in particular, he said.

"The notable progress achieved in terms of the indigenous development of sensors is visible in the outfit of this class of ships," he said.