Defence Ministry signs Rs 53,866.50-crore contracts for eight next-generation corvettes for Indian Navy

The Ministry of Defence has signed contracts worth Rs 53,866.50 crore with Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE) and Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) for the construction of eight Next Generation Corvettes for the Indian Navy.

The contracts were signed in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh at Kartavya Bhawan-2 in New Delhi on Monday.

Under the agreement, GRSE will construct five corvettes, while GSL will build the remaining three. The project marks a significant step in strengthening India’s indigenous warship design and construction capabilities, with the vessels to be designed by the Indian Navy and built by defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs) selected through a competitive process.

Project to boost India’s domestic shipbuilding industry

The Ministry of Defence said the project would strengthen India’s domestic shipbuilding ecosystem by bringing together defence public sector companies, private shipyards and Indian industrial partners, including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The construction programme is expected to generate substantial employment across shipyards and supporting industries over the next decade.

“The construction of these ships is expected to generate approximately 72 lakh person-days of employment in the shipyards and 460 lakh person-days in ancillary industries and MSMEs over the next ten years,” the Ministry said in its statement.

The project is also expected to increase the participation of Indian companies in defence manufacturing.

Advanced capabilities for Indian navy

The Next Generation Corvettes will be equipped with advanced missiles, weapons and sensor systems, enabling them to undertake operations across air, surface and sub-surface domains.

According to the Ministry, the induction of these vessels will strengthen the Indian Navy’s ability to safeguard maritime trade routes, conduct anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare operations, and enhance coastal defence.

The ships will also support littoral combat operations, maritime presence and surveillance missions, further enhancing the Navy’s operational capabilities.

Push for aatmanirbhar Bharat and make in India

The Ministry said the project would promote the use of Made-in-India materials and equipment, indigenous technologies, and Indian skills and expertise.

It added that the programme represented a major step towards achieving self-reliance in defence manufacturing and strengthening the country’s domestic industrial capabilities.

The project is also expected to deepen collaboration between defence public sector undertakings, private shipyards and MSMEs, giving a boost to India’s indigenous shipbuilding industry.

The Ministry said the contract was aligned with the government’s commitment to Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India in the defence sector.

(with ANI inputs)