Defence Ministry okays Rs 19,600 cr deal for offshore, missile vessels

The Ministry of Defense (MoD) has approved contracts worth Rs 19,600 crore with Indian shipyards for the procurement of 11 next-generation coastal patrol vessels and six next-generation missile vessels for the Indian Navy as a major boost towards Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Talking about how the new contract will significantly enhance the capabilities of the Indian Navy, former Deputy Chief of the Navy Vice Admiral SN Ghormade said the acquisition of 11 next-generation coastal patrol vessels and six NGMVs "will replace the aging missile vessels and we needed a replacement."

"It will strengthen the Navy and the nation." Coastal patrol vessels will provide us with surveillance capabilities at sea, which is a must given the vast Indian Ocean that we need to monitor and track as part of our mission-based deployments,” he further added.

Coastal patrol vessels of the new generation

An agreement for the purchase of 11 next-generation coastal patrol vessels has been signed with Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, for Rs 9,781 crore. GSL will design, develop and build seven of the 11 ships, while GRSE will design, develop and manufacture four. Delivery of the ships is planned for the beginning of September 2026.

Acquiring these ships will enable the Indian Navy to maintain its combat capability while meeting various operational requirements such as anti-piracy, anti-infiltration, anti-poaching, anti-trafficking, non-combatant evacuation operations, search and rescue (SAR) and among other things, protection of offshore assets. In addition, the construction of these ships would generate 110 million man-days of employment over a period of seven and a half years.

New generation rocket ships

An agreement for procurement of six New Generation Missile Vessels (NGMV) at a cost of Rs 9,805 crore has been signed with Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL). The NGMCs are scheduled for delivery in March 2027. The NGMVs would be highly equipped warships with stealth, high speed and attack capabilities. The main mission of the ships would be to offer offensive capabilities against enemy warships, commercial ships and land targets.

These ships will be capable of naval strike operations, anti-surface warfare operations and will be a powerful tool for denying enemy ships at sea, especially at choke points. These ships would be used for local maritime defense operations and defense of the Offshore Development Region seaward in a defensive posture.