The CCS has cleared a project to build eight next-generation corvettes for the Indian Navy. The indigenous warship programme will strengthen maritime capabilities and support domestic defence manufacturing.Centre clears Rs 40,000-crore to build 8 next-gen stealth ships for Indian Navy. (Representative image)The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has cleared a project worth over Rs 40,000 crore to build eight Next-Generation Corvettes (NGCs) for the Indian Navy.
The warships will be constructed by two state-owned shipyards, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata and Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL).The clearance was given at a CCS meeting held on Wednesday, with the contract for the eight warships expected to be signed with the two shipyards in the next few days, top government officials told ANI.Defence sources told India Today that this is the first mega defence project to have received clearance at the highest level in recent times. The project is expected to strengthen the Navy's surface fleet while giving a significant push to indigenous warship manufacturing.WHAT MAKES THE NEXT-GENERATION CORVETTES SPECIALThe eight Next-Generation Corvettes will be approximately 2,000-tonne high-speed surface combatants, with a speed of around 30 knots.
They will feature an entirely new stealth design developed in-house by the Indian Navy, using advanced shipbuilding technologies. Designed as highly adaptable, multi-role platforms, the warships will be capable of carrying out a range of maritime security missions, including anti-surface, anti-submarine and anti-air warfare.They will also be equipped for coastal defence, maritime patrol, search and rescue operations, making them suitable for multiple operational requirements across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
The stealth features, advanced weapons and sensors, and high manoeuvrability are expected to enhance the Navy's operational capabilities.OVER 70% INDIGENOUS CONTENTThe project will have more than 70 per cent indigenous content, in line with the government's Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative and its push to strengthen domestic defence manufacturing.The construction of all eight warships in India will also further the government's SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision.The Rs 40,000-crore-plus order will be shared between GRSE in Kolkata and Goa Shipyard Limited in Goa. It is expected to provide the two shipyards with long-term order book visibility and generate thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities across the MSME ecosystem.FIRST CORVETTE EXPECTED BY 2030The construction of the first corvette is expected to begin within a year, according to the reporter input.
The first vessel is targeted for delivery by 2030, with efforts underway to accelerate construction timelines.Deliveries of the warships are expected to begin over the next four to five years, according to the information shared by defence sources.The project comes as the Indian Navy continues to modernise its fleet to address growing maritime security challenges in the Indian Ocean Region, particularly amid an increased Chinese presence.The latest clearance adds to the Navy's ongoing warship-building programme, which includes Nilgiri-class frigates, next-generation destroyers and fleet support ships.- Ends