Visakhapatnam: Union defence minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday commissioned the first indigenously built stealth Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Corvette INS Kamorta at the Naval Dockyard here in Vizag.
Mr Jaitley congratulated the Indian Navy, the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd, (GRSE), and other industries, which have contributed towards building the ship and hoped that that India transforms from being the biggest buyer to the biggest manufacturer of defence products in the world.
INS Kamorta is the first ever stealth warship built in the country with around 90pc of indigenous content including special grade high-tensile steel produced by Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL).
The hull of the ship encompasses the sensors and weapon systems that are also manufactured and supplied by various Indian industries.
The Union minister said that the induction of INS Kamorta adds thrust to the nation’s ongoing endeavours at indigenisation with Indian Navy being the forerunner.
He also added that out of the 119 warship and submarines in the pipeline, 42 are under the construction in various shipyards in the country.
Speaking at the function Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral R.K. Dhowan, said, that after having made significant progress towards indigenisationin the ‘Move’ component we now need to focus towards indigenisation of the ‘fight component so that weapons and sensors are also made within the country and all future warships can be fully indigenous.
