Kora-class corvette
{{Short description|Class of Indian Navy corvettes}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
| {{Infobox ship begin
}} {{Infobox ship image | Ship image = INS Kulish (P63) is underway with U.S. and Indian navy ships during Exercise Malabar 2012.jpg | Ship caption = INS Kulish (P63) during Exercise Malabar 2012 }} {{Infobox ship class overview | Name = Kora class | Builders = GRSE | Operators = *{{navy|IND}}
| Class before = {{sclass|Khukri|corvette|4}} | Class after = {{sclass|Kamorta|corvette|4}} | Subclasses = | Cost = *{{INRConvert|240|c|0|lk=on|year=2001}} (India, FY 2001)
| Built range = | In commission range = | Total ships building = | Total ships planned = | Total ships completed = 5 | Total ships cancelled = | Total ships active = 5 | Total ships laid up = | Total ships lost = | Total ships retired = | Total ships preserved = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Ship type = Guided missile corvette | Ship displacement = {{cvt|1460|ST}} (full load) | Ship length = {{convert|91.1|m|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|10.5|m|abbr=on}} | Ship draught = {{convert|4.5|m|abbr=on}} | Ship draft = | Ship propulsion = 2 × SEMT Pielstick/Kirloskar 18 PA6V 280 diesel engines ({{cvt|14400|PS|disp=semicolon}}); 2 shafts | Ship speed = {{convert|25|kn|abbr=on}} | Ship range = {{convert|4000|mi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|16|kn|abbr=on}} | Ship complement = 134 including 14 officers | Ship sensors = *MR-352 (NATO: Cross Dome) E/F-band air search radar
| Ship EW = *BEL Ajanta P electronic support measures
| Ship armament = *16 × Kh-35 (SS-N-25) SSM (4 x quad launchers)
| Ship armour = | Ship armor = | Ship aircraft = 1 × HAL Dhruv or HAL Chetak | Ship aircraft facilities = | Ship notes = }} |
Kora-class corvettes, also known as Project 25A, are guided missile corvettes, in active service with the Indian Navy and the National Coast Guard of Mauritius.[http://indiannavy.nic.in/corvettes_kora.htm Indian Naval Ships-Corvettes-Khukri Class] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090619082545/http://indiannavy.nic.in/corvettes_kora.htm |date=19 June 2009 }} Four vessels were built at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) and outfitted at Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL).
Design
The primary role of the Kora class is as surface combatants, representing a modernized version of the prior {{sclass|Khukri|corvette}}. They are armed with four quad-launchers for 3M-24 anti-ship missiles (Russian: Kh-35 Uran, NATO: SS-N-25 Switchblade){{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/p-kora.htm |title=Project 25A Kora Class |publisher=globalsecurity.org |date=9 July 2011 |access-date=27 September 2014}} as opposed to the two dual launchers for P-15 Termit ASMs (NATO: SS-N-2D Styx) of its predecessor. The 3M-24E missile is guided by homing active radar and can carry a {{convert|145|kg|abbr=on}} warhead to a range of {{convert|130|km|abbr=on}} at Mach 0.9 speed. They are powered by two SEMT Pielstick/Kirloskar 18 PA6V 280 diesel engines.{{cite web|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NAVY/Ships/Active/176-Kora-Class.html |title=Kora (Type 25A) Class |publisher=Bharat-Rakshak.com |access-date=27 September 2014}} A HAL Chetak or HAL Dhruv helicopter can operate from the vessels. The vessels are also supplied with Strela-2M ManPADS (NATO: SA-N-5 Grail), which have a range of {{convert|4.2|km|abbr=on}} and a speed of Mach 1.75. {{INS|Kulish|P63|6}} is equipped with two Igla surface-to-air missile launchers (NATO: SA-18 Grouse).{{cn|date=February 2025}}
The first two corvettes of the subclass are armed with a {{convert|76|mm|abbr=on}} AK-176 dual-purpose gun and two {{convert|30|mm|abbr=on}} AK-630 CIWS. The AK-176 can fire at the rate of 120 rounds-per-minute (RPM) to a range of {{convert|15.5|km|abbr=on}}, while the AK-630 can fire at 3,000RPM to a range of {{convert|2|km|abbr=on}}. {{INS|Kirch|P62|6}} and {{INS|Kulish|P63|6}} are fitted with a {{convert|76|mm|abbr=on}} Otobreda super rapid gun firing 120 RPM.
The sensor suite includes a MR-352 Pozitiv-E (Cross Dome) air or surface search radar, Bharat 1245 navigation radar and BEL Rani navigation radar. The MR-352 radar can track targets within a range of {{convert|130|km|abbr=on}}. Fire control is provided by Garpun-Bal and MR-123 radars. The Garpun-Bal radar combines active and passive channels and in the active target designation mode, it operates in X-band (I/J-band) and can handle up to 150 targets at ranges between {{convert|35|-|45|km|abbr=on}}, although it is possible to obtain ranges of more than {{convert|180|km|abbr=on}} in wave-guide propagation conditions.
The corvettes are fitted with the Ajanta P Mk II Electronic Support Measures system. There are four PK-10 chaff launchers and two towed torpedo decoys to deceive incoming anti-ship missiles and torpedoes. PK-10 is a 10 tube {{convert|120|mm|abbr=on}} barrage chaff launcher that can fire 80 rounds at a time.
The Kora class is powered by two diesel engines driving two controllable pitch propellers through two shafts. Each engine is rated at {{convert|7100|hp|kW|lk=in}}. Four diesel alternators rated at 350 kW are provided for power generation. The propulsion system provides a top speed of {{convert|25|kn|abbr=on}}, an average speed of {{convert|16|kn|abbr=on}} and a maximum range of {{convert|4000|nmi|abbr=on}}.
Each ship cost in 2001 approximately {{INRConvert|240|c|lk=on|year=2001|0}}.
A simpler version exported to Mauritius in 2014 cost approximately {{INRConvert|365|c|lk=on|year=2014}}.
History
The Kora-class corvettes were designed by India's Naval design bureau under Project 25A, as a replacement for the Russian-designed Petya II-class corvettes of the Indian Navy. The first two were ordered in April 1990 and latter two in October 1994. The class was to be outfitted with the Trishul SAM, but following the cancellation of the Trishul project, a shoulder-launched SAM was adopted.
{{INS|Kora|P61|6}} undertook a goodwill visit to Singapore in mid-2001. The corvette participated in the Republic of Singapore Navy Day celebrations followed by the International Maritime Defence Exhibition (IMDEX) Asia 2001. The participation of INS Kora in the International Maritime Defence Exhibition was a showcase of the Indian shipbuilding industry and its indigenous efforts.
Export
In 2012, it was reported that Mauritius had ordered 2 vessels based on this class from the Garden Reach Shipbuilders.{{cite web|title=Surface Force: An Indian First |url=http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htsurf/articles/20120430.aspx |publisher=Strategy Page |date=30 April 2012 |access-date=30 April 2012}}
Ships of this class
Gallery
{{Gallery
|title=Kora-class corvette images at sea.
|width=160 | height=170
|align=center
|File:INS Kora (P61) escorting PLA Navy Ship Weifang off Visakhapatnam, India in May 2014.jpg
|INS Kora escorting PLA Navy Ship Weifang off Visakhapatnam, India.
|File:INS Sumedha (P59) and INS Kulish (P63) enroute to Bangladesh.jpg
|INS Sumedha (P58) and INS Kulish (P63) enroute to Bangladesh.
|File:INS Kulish (P63) is underway with U.S. and Indian navy ships during Exercise Malabar 2012.jpg
|INS Kulish (P63) underway with U.S. Navy during Exercise Malabar 2012.
|File:INS Kulish (P63), left, passes USS Halsey during Malabar 2012.jpg
|INS Kulish, left, passes USS Halsey during Malabar 2012.
|File:INS Karmuk P64 at Visakhapatnam.jpg
|INS Karmuk at Visakhapatnam, India.
|File:MCGS Barracuda at sea.jpg
|MCGS Barracuda a derivative of Kora-class corvette en-route to Mauritius for delivery to National Coast Guard Mauritius.
}}
In popular culture
{{INS|Kirch|P62|}} and {{INS|Kulish|P63|}} were featured in the Bollywood film Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Sathiyo, where they are seen accompanying the Rajput-class destroyer {{INS|Ranvir|D54|}}.{{cn|date=February 2025}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{Corvettes_of_the_Indian_Navy}}
{{Ship classes of the Indian Navy}}