SYLLABUS SECTION: GS III (DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY)

WHY IN THE NEWS?

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has given the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN), COMBAT EDGE NAVY SEEKS for several capital acquisition projects of the Indian defence forces.

WHAT IS A CORVETTE?

• A Corvette is the smallest class of naval ships and it falls below the warship class of a frigate.
• These are highly agile ships and are categorize as missile boats,
• There are Anti-submarine ships, coastal patrol crafts and fast attack naval vessels.
• Corvettes date back to the 18th and 19th centuries when they were extensively use in the naval warfare duels that were fought on high seas.
• These were power by sails and masts and disappear for a while when steam-powered naval ships made their appearance.
• During World War II, the term Corvette was use to describe vessels which had anti-submarine roles assigning them.

WHAT KIND OF CORVETTES DOES THE INDIAN NAVY POSSESS?

• The Indian Navy at present has the Kamorta Class Corvettes, which are also known as Project 28.
• These ships have an anti-submarine role and are manufacture at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers in Kolkata.
• The four Kamorta Class Corvettes that the Indian Navy possesses are name INS Kamorta, INS Kadmatt, INS Kiltan and INS Kavaratti.
• The first of these was commissiones in 2014 and the last one in 2020.

WHAT NEW CAPABILITIES WILL THE NEW GENERATION OF CORVETTES HAVE?

• The next-generation Corvettes will be manufacture for various roles like surveillance missions, escort operations, deterrence, surface action group operations, search and attack and coastal defence.
• These next-generation Corvettes will be construct base on the new in-house design of the Indian Navy using the latest technology in ship buildings.
• It would contribute to further the government’s initiative of Security and Growth for all in the Region (SAGAR).

Read more: UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS

Source: Indian Express