New Delhi: The Ministry of Defence has signed a contract worth Rs. 53,866 crore to procure 8 new-generation warships under the self-reliance initiative.
To further strengthen self-reliance in Indian defence manufacturing (Aatmanirbhar Bharat), the Ministry of Defence has signed contracts worth Rs. 53,866 crore for the procurement of 8 new-generation warships for the Indian Navy.
Accordingly, the public sector shipbuilding companies GRSE and Goa Shipyard will build 5 and 3 warships, respectively. This is the first warship project designed domestically by the Indian Navy and developed by public sector enterprises selected through a competitive bidding process. This historic contract was signed in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.
The modern warship currently being built, the corvette, is slightly smaller in size than frigate-class warships. At the same time, it is a warship capable of operating at high speed and equipped with powerful missiles and weapons. It will feature modern missiles, radar, and sensor equipment. It has the capability to simultaneously strike and destroy enemy targets in the air, on the sea surface, and underwater.
These will be deployed for coastal defense, anti-submarine warfare, maritime surveillance, and protecting commercial sea routes. At present, the Indian Navy has 18 to 24 corvette-class warships in service, and the addition of these 8 new warships will greatly enhance India’s maritime security capabilities.