India's first indigenous Air Defence Ship by 2010

Kochi, Jun 7: The country's first indigenously manufactured Air Defence Ship (ADS) will be launched by October, 2010, as per the Phase I contract signed by its manufacturer Cochin Shipyard Ltd.(CSL) with the union defence ministry.

The contract, covering the construction of the ADS till its launching, was signed on May 12 by CSL Executive Director (Aircraft Carrier Project) K K Sukumaran and Joint Secretary (MS), Ministry of Defence, CSL sources told UNI here today.

''The vessel is scheduled to be launched by 2010. Design work on the project is in progress and fabrication of hull blocks has already started,'' they said.

With the launching of the ship, almost 80 per cent of the work on the ADS would be over. The remaining work would be contracted for afterwards, the sources added.

However, they declined to confirm reports that the ADS project, which will catapult India into a select club of countries having this capability, will cost about Rs 3,000 crore.

''The cost is to be announced by the Indian Navy,'' they added.

Asked if the CSL was being overoptimistic in promising to launch the ADS by 2010, the sources said ''our workers and sub-contractors are confident that we will be able to do it.'' Several modernisation measures needed at the Cochin Shipyard for the ADS project, including the installation of a 300 tonne crane, a special paint coating shop and a CNC plasma cutting machine, were already in place. A few more facilities required for the project would be in place soon, they said.

The concept design for the approximately 37,500 metric tonnes displacement ADS, defining the overall ship dimensions, evolution of hull form, general arrangement drawings, structure, stability, weight and space analysis and hydro-dynamic model tests have been completed.

The contracts for outsourcing activities related to propulsion system integration and detailed engineering and documentation have been signed with the Italian company Fincantieri SpA. The contract for procurement of steel from SAIL has also been signed.

The air group will likely consist of a minimum of 12 combat aircraft such as the Naval LCA, the MiG-29K or the Sea Harrier Mk.51 / Mk.60, along with 10 helicopters likely consisting of the HAL Dhruv and/or the Sea King Mk.42.

The Indian Navy has projected a requirement of three aircraft carriers so that two aircraft carriers are operationally available at all times.

Presently, only one aircraft carrier 'INS Virat' is in operation with the Navy.

The country had first decided to construct the ADS indigenously in 1999. However, the union cabinet's formal decision to this effect was taken only in 2003 when it was decided that the Cochin Shipyard Ltd. would construct three air defence ships for the Indian Navy.

Modernisation of the shipyard and problems in acquiring the special high-grade steel needed for the vessel were among the problems which delayed the project.

UNI