In the next three to four years, as many as 45 warships will be added to the Indian Navy, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS) Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan revealed recently.
Speaking at the launch of ‘Sanghamitra’, the first of four next-generation offshore patrol vessels (NGOPVs) being built for the Indian Navy, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd, Vice Admiral Vatsayan said the country's Navy has evolved into a force committed not only to combat preparedness but also to maintaining a stable maritime environment through cooperation, presence and operational readiness.
"In this broader context, the next-generation offshore patrol vessel project holds considerable significance," he said.
Vice Admiral Vatsayan said currently, around 45 warships are under construction in the country and these will be deliverd in the next few years.
Further, he said the Navy got acceptance of necessity (nod) for another 69 ships, six submarines and another 120 fast interceptor crafts.
"There is a very big opportunity for the entire defence building ecosystem to deliver quality products in time with the capabilities required by the Indian Navy,” he was quoted as saying.
He also hailed GRSE for delivering eight ships to the Indian Navy during the last financial year.
According to officials, NGOPVs are significantly larger and more capable than conventional offshore patrol vessels, with enhanced endurance and firepower.
The vessel measures around 113 metres in length and 14.6 metres in width, with a displacement of 3,000 tonnes.
The ship, they added, has an endurance of 8,500 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 14 knots and can achieve a maximum speed of 23 knots.
