Indian shipyards sign Rs 19,600 crore contracts for next-generation patrol vessels and missile vessels - Broadsword by Ajai Shukla

MAKE IN INDIA GROW

Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels

Next Generation Missile Ships

Contract for 11 vessels signed for Rs 9,781 crore

Contract for 6 vessels signed for Rs 9,805 crore

7 be manufactured locally by GSL and 4 by GRSE

All 6 will be manufactured locally by CSL

11 million man-days of employment over 7.5 years

4.5 million man-days of employment over 9 years

By Vikas Gupta

Trade Standard, 31st March 23

In a push for Aatmanirbharta (autonomy) in shipbuilding, the Ministry of Defense on Thursday signed contracts with Indian shipyards for the construction of 17 state-of-the-art warships for the Indian Navy at a total cost of around Rs 19,600 crore.

Warships on order include 11 Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (NG-OPV) and six Next Generation Missile Vessels (NG-MV).

Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels

The contract for the construction of 11 NG-OPVs in the category “Buy Indian — Indian Designed, Developed and Manufactured” (Buy Indian – IDDM) has been signed with Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) , Kolkata at a total cost of Rs 9,781 crore.

Of the 11 NG-OPVs, seven will be designed, developed and manufactured locally by GSL and four by GRSE. The delivery of these urgently needed warships is expected to start from September 2026.

This acquisition will enable the Indian Navy to maintain its combat capability, including carrying out various operational missions such as anti-piracy, counter-infiltration, anti-poaching, anti-trafficking, operations non-combatant evacuation, search and rescue (SAR) and offshore asset protection, etc., the Department of Defense said.

This order for the construction of warships will generate the employment of 11 million man-days over a period of seven and a half years.

Each NG-OPV will displace approximately 2,500 tons, making this class of vessel much larger and more powerful than current Navy and Coast Guard OPVs.

OPVs are large craft that carry up to 80-90 sailors, but are much more lightly armed – and therefore much cheaper – than capital warships like corvettes, frigates or destroyers. To perform tasks that do not require intense combat, OPVs offer a much more economical option than using heavily armed capital warships.

Next Generation Missile Ships

The contract for the construction of six NGMVs has been signed with Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) at a cost of Rs 9,805 crore. The delivery of these warships is expected to start from March 2027.

“NGMVs would be heavily armed warships incorporating stealth, high-speed and offensive capabilities. The primary role of the ships would be to provide an offensive capability against enemy warships, merchant ships and land targets,” the MoD said.

These warships will be capable of conducting maritime strike operations, anti-surface warfare operations and would be a powerful sea denial instrument for enemy ships, especially at choke points.

In the defensive role, these vessels would be employed for local naval defense operations and sea defense of the ‘offshore development area’.

The construction of these vessels will generate jobs of 4.5 million man-days over a period of nine years.

The local manufacture of these vessels will encourage the active participation of Indian shipbuilding and associated industries, including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

“With the majority of equipment and systems sourced from local manufacturers, these vessels will be a proud flagship of Atmanirbhar Bharat, said the Ministry of Defense.