Context

Recently, Indian Naval Ship Kiltan arrived at Muara, Brunei and was accorded a warm welcome by the Royal Brunei Navy. 

INS Kiltan arrives in Brunei as part of South China Sea deployment

• The visit is part of Operational Deployment of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet to South China Sea.
• The visit will conclude with a Maritime Partnership Exercise at sea between the Indian Navy and Royal Brunei Navy. 

INS Kiltan

INS Kiltan is built indigenously  as one of the  four Kamorta class Corvettes designed by the Indian Navy’s in-house organization.

• Project 28: As part of Project 28, INS Kiltan was built as an anti-submarine warfare corvette by Garden Reach Shipbuilders in Kolkata.
• Naming of the Ship: The vessel is named after a coral island within the Aminidivi archipelago, situated in the Lakshadweep and Minicoy group of islands.
• Features: Kiltan is the first Indian naval ship with a carbon fiber superstructure, reducing maintenance costs and enhancing stealth.
  • It is designed for detecting, tracking, and neutralizing enemy submarines, as well as conducting anti-surface and anti-aircraft operations.
  • The corvette comes with cutting-edge sensors, weapon systems, and stealth capabilities to boost its ability to survive and succeed in today’s naval combat situations.

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Project 28

Project-28 is a project aimed at constructing four Anti Submarine Warships within India by Garden Reach Shipbuilders And Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata.

• • Approved in 2003, Project 28 began with the construction of the lead ship, INS Kamorta, on 12 August 2005.
• Commissioning  of P28 Corvettes: Each of the four corvettes, INS Kamorta, INS Kadmatt, INS Kiltan, and INS Kavaratti, entered into service in 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2020, respectively.

Corvettes:

These vessels are the smallest within the naval fleet and are classified below frigates in terms of size and capability.

• • They are highly maneuverable and fall into categories such as missile boats, anti-submarine ships, coastal patrol crafts, and fast attack naval vessels.
• Background: During World War II, Corvettes were mainly used for anti-submarine missions. Modern Corvettes, with their displacement of up to 2,000 tons, retain agility in their operations.