What areAnti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts?
By iastoppers.com
The Indian Navy recently strengthened its marine power by inducting two Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) warships, ‘Agray’ and ‘Akshay’
This induction is part of a contract signed five years ago with Kolkata-based PSU GRSE to construct eight ASW-SWC ships
ASW-SWC corvettes are designed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) and Cochin Shipyard (CSL) specifically for anti-submarine warfare
The development of ASW-SWC corvettes aims to replace the aging Abhay-class corvettes within the Indian Navy
‘Agray’ and ‘Akshay’ are the fifth and sixth ships out of the 8 planned for the ASW Shallow Water Craft Project
ASW-SWC ships are capable of performing a variety of missions including Anti-Submarine Warfare operations, search-and-attack unit missions, and subsurface surveillance in littoral waters
These ships have a displacement of 900 tons, measure 77.6 meters in length and 10.5 meters in width, and can reach speeds of up to 25 Knots with an endurance of over 1800 NM
They are equipped with advanced anti-submarine warfare tools including ASW rockets, lightweight torpedoes, and mines, enhancing their ability to neutralize underwater threats
The ships also feature 12.7 mm Stabilised Remote-Control Guns and a 30 mm Close-in Weapon System for additional defensive capabilities
With a significant portion (80%) of their content being indigenous, these warships are a testament to India's growing self-reliance in defense technology