India's Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has criticised the Indian Navy for causing a delay in building four anti-submarine warships.
According to the CAG's report, out of the four warships, two that were delivered were not equipped with the requisite weapons systems and so could not perform to their intended potential. This report was also presented in Parliament.
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The Navy's Directorate of Naval Design (DND) has also been criticised for causing delays in finalising the design of the vessels.
The approved designs were changed 24 times by DND, reported Press Trust of India.
Although the defence public sector undertaking Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited secured a letter of intent for the corvettes in 2003, amendments to the vessels' designs continued until five years later.
The first vessel was delivered to the Indian Navy in July 2014, with the second following in November 2015. The terms of the deal stated that the third vessel should have been delivered in July 2014 and fourth in April 2015.
The federal auditor’s report stated: "Against the 18 weapons and sensors to be installed on ASW corvettes, the audit observed that the two ASW corvettes delivered were not fitted with 'X' weapon and sensor systems. Thus, ASW corvettes could not perform to its full potential as envisaged."
It further noted that the effectiveness of the corvettes' warfare features had yet to be proven, as the Sea Acceptance Tests (SAT) were still pending on all the second vessel's weapons and as well as on six of the weapons system on the first ship.
These tests are conducted to check the corvette’s speed and equipment, in addition to manoeuvrability and safety aspects.
