Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman commissions INS Kiltan to Indian Navy

Indigenously-built anti-submarine warfare (ASW) stealth corvette INS Kitan was commissioned on Monday by Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam.  

The Defence Minsiter said, ““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 INS 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.

The  warships have been integrated to provide a common Operational Picture (COP), an official release said.

The ship derives its name from one of the islands in Aminidivi group of the strategically located Lakshadweep and Minicoy group of islands.

According to the official release INS Kiltan 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 cost.

The INS Kiltan’s corvette has been designed by the Indian Navy’s in-house body, the directorate of Naval Design under Project 28 (Karmota-class).

The official release further said, “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.”

According to the official release, the warship hosts a predominantly indigenous cutting-edge weapons and sensors suite which includes heavyweight torpedoes, ASW rockets, 76 mm calibre Medium Range gun and two multi-barrel 30 mm guns as close-in-weapon system (CIWS) with dedicated fire control systems, missile decoy rockets (Chaff), advanced Electronic Support Measure system, most advanced bow-mounted sonar and air surveillance radar Revathi, it said.

The event was attended by Indian Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lamba, Flag Officer Commanding-in-chief of Eastern Naval Comman HS Bhatia and other senior officers at the Naval Dockyard.