Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Security
Why in News?
State-run Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) delivered Mangrol, the third of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW-SWC) being built by CSL, to the Indian Navy.
- Nomenclature - Named after the coastal port town of Mangrol in Junagadh district, Gujarat.
- It carries forward the legacy of the erstwhile minesweeper INS Mangrol, which remained in service until 2004.
- Primary Role - Designed to detect, track, and engage enemy submarines operating in shallow, acoustically cluttered coastal waters, freeing frontline destroyers and frigates for blue-water operations.
- Operational Range - Up to 200 nautical miles from the coast
- Displacement - Displaces 900–1,100 tonnes; Length of 78 metres
- Speed & Endurance - Max speed of 25 knots; 2-week operational endurance
- High Indigenization - Features over 80% indigenous content, built with key components supplied by Indian entities like BEL, L&T Defence, Mahindra Defence Systems, NPOL, and MSMEs.
- Propulsion - Powered by diesel engines and waterjets with a shallow draught of 2.7 metres, allowing high maneuverability in confined waters while reducing underwater radiated noise.
- Sensors - Equipped with the DRDO-developed Abhay hull-mounted sonar and a towed low-frequency variable-depth sonar.
- Weapons - Features an RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launcher, triple torpedo tubes firing Advanced Lightweight Torpedoes, a 30 mm naval gun, and mine-laying rails.
About the ASW-SWC Programme
- Objective- Designed to replace the four Soviet-origin Abhay-class corvettes.
- Shipbuilder Split - A total of 16 vessels was approved,
- 8 being constructed by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) (Mahe-class) and
- 8 by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) (Arnala-class).
- Strategic Context - Strengthens India's coastal defense capabilities amid increasing
- Chinese underwater activity in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and
- Pakistan's induction of Chinese-origin AIP-fitted Hangor-class submarines.
Reference
The New Indian Express | Third shallow-water sub hunter to Navy
