Indian Navy Warship Visit to Papua New Guinea – 50th Independence Day (2025)

31 Aug 2025 GS 2 International Relations

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INS Kadmatt (indigenous ASW Corvette) arrived at Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG), to participate in its 50th Independence Day celebrations.
Significance: Strengthens India–PNG friendship, maritime partnership, and engagement under Act East Policy.

Symbolism
- Represents India’s commitment to peace, stability, and inclusive growth in the Indo-Pacific.
- Demonstrates Indian Navy’s role as a diplomatic instrument for building goodwill.
Activities
- Participation in PNG’s official Independence Day Parade and cultural events.
- Exploring cooperation in maritime security, HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief), and defence training.
- Hosting PNG’s Chief of Defence Forces onboard INS Kadmatt to showcase India’s ‘Aatma Nirbharta’ journey in defence manufacturing.
Diplomatic Continuity
- Builds on PM Narendra Modi’s 2023 visit to PNG, which emphasized:
  - Deepening bilateral relations
  - Expanding development partnerships
  - Enhancing defence cooperation

For PNG: Recognition of its sovereignty and democratic values at 50 years of independence.
For India:

Physical geography

Extent: From just south of the Equator to the Torres Strait; mainland reaches ~820 km north–south along border with Indonesian Papua (approx. 141°E longitude).
Major island groups: New Guinea (mainland), Bismarck Archipelago (New Britain, New Ireland, Admiralty Islands), Bougainville and Buka, numerous small islands and atolls.
Coastal contrast: South coast low and swampy (Fly-Digul shelf); north coast drops sharply to sea with volcanic islands off the northern fringe.

Tectonics: Collision zone between Australian Plate (south) and Pacific Plate (north) — young, active orogeny.
Highlands: Central mountainous zone (Highlands) with peaks exceeding 4,000 m; Mount Wilhelm highest at 4,509 m.
Karst and limestone belts: Prominent in Kikori–Lake Kutubu area with rugged karst topography and dense rainforest.
Enclosed upland basins at 1,370 m+ with fertile soils formed from sediment and volcanic ash.

Indigenous stealth ASW Corvette of the Indian Navy.
Second of four corvettes built under Project 28 (Kamorta-class) by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.
Commissioned: January 2016.
Command: Inducted into the Eastern Naval Command, Visakhapatnam.
Named after Kadmat Island (Lakshadweep).

Primary Role: Anti-submarine warfare (ASW).
- Protects naval convoys, fleets, and ports against enemy submarines.
Secondary Roles:
- Surface warfare and limited air defence.
- Maritime surveillance and escort duties.
- Humanitarian assistance & disaster relief (HADR) operations.

Built under Project 28 (Aatma Nirbhar Bharat initiative).
Designed for reduced radar cross-section and acoustic signature.
Produces low levels of radiated underwater noise, reducing chances of detection.
Steel hull with advanced stealth shaping and sound-absorbing techniques.

Weapons:
- Torpedo tubes (for submarines).
- RBU-6000 rocket launchers (anti-submarine rockets).
- Anti-aircraft guns for close-in defence.
Sensors & Radars:
- Early warning radar, navigation radar, fire-control radar.
- Hull-mounted sonar & towed array sonar for submarine detection.
Aviation Capability: Embarks Sea King anti-submarine helicopter.