Navy to commission two fast attack craft this month

New Delhi, Jun 13 (PTI) To provide more teeth to its
coastal security and surveillance capabilities, the Indian
Navy will induct two more water jet propelled Fast Attack
Craft (FACs) in Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh state in south
India by this month-end.
The two FACs, built by Kolkata-based Garden Reach
Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), will be based in the
eastern coast to facilitate Navy to carry out patrols and
intercept rogue ships, Navy officers said here on Sunday.
Named INS Cankaso and INS Kondul, two island territories
of India, these would be the fifth and sixth FACs under the
Car Nicobar class of craft that India began building in 2007.
The Navy has already inducted four FACs under this class
-- Car Nicobar, Chetlat, Korah Divh and Cheriyam -- last year
as part of the fast-track process following the Mumbai terror
attacks, when Pakistani terrorists used a boat to reach the
coast of the metropolis.
The Navy will have a total of 10 FACs under this class
and they would be based all along the 7,500-km long coastline.
The vessels are capable of touching speeds of 35 knots
propelled by three water jet propulsion engines producing
11,238 horse power.
"The 600-tonne FACs are cost-effective platforms for
patrol and rescue operations at sea," the officers said.
The vessels have improved habitability with fully
air-conditioned modular type accommodation. They have
sensors or radars, an efficient gun turret of indigenous
design and sewage treatment plant to comply with conditions
laid down by the International Maritime Organisation.
The FACs are armed with a 30mm CRN-91 gun fitted on the
fore peak, a naval version of the 2A42 30mm Medak gun. It is
controlled by an electronic fire control system developed and
jointly produced by the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) and
Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
The last four FACs under this class -- named Kalpeni,
Kabra, Koswari and Karuva -- are expected to be inducted into
the Navy by the end of this year. PTI