In a move that will enhance the combat readiness and operational presence of India across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has cleared defence proposals worth over Rs 40,000 crore for the Indian Navy.
According to media reports, the CCS cleared the project to build as many as eight Next Generation Corvettes (NGCs) to boost the maritime capabilities of the Indian Navy.
"The contract for the eight warships would be signed in the next few days with Garden Reach Shipbuilders, Kolkata and Goa Shipyard Limited," news agency ANI quoted top defence sources as saying.
The addition of these warships will boost the anti-surface warfare capabilities of the Indian Navy and improve the surveillance capabilities of the force across the IOR.
ANI cited the defence ministry as saying recently that these Next Generation Corvettes will be used for a variety of roles, including surveillance missions, escort operations, Surface Action Group (SAG) operations, Search & Attack and Coastal Defence.
These NGCs, which will have a displacement capacity of 2,000 tonnes and a maximum speed of nearly 30 knots, would be constructed based on a new in-house design of the Indian Navy using the latest shipbuilding technology.
The Navy is expecting to get the first of these eight compact, fast, multirole stealth warships by 2030.
The Defence Acquisition Council had accorded Acceptance of Necessity for the project in June 2022.
The shipyards are also looking at ways to expedite the project and deliver the warships on time.
