GRSE launches third NGOPV ‘Shreyas’ in five months

Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) on Saturday launched the third of four Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vehicles (NGOPV) named Shreyas.

What is striking is the speed at which the Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU), has achieved this feat within five months, coinciding with the BJP government being in power in the state. GRSE has a history of building warships and has been a defence exporter. The launch of new NGOPV adds to eastern India's contributions to the country’s defence manufacturing infrastructure and corporate-defence milestones.

“This is the third launch at a rate of almost 45 days and I must compliment team GRSE for this outstanding achievement,” said Ajay Kochhar, Vice Admiral of the Naval Staff of India, who—along with his wife—were the chief guests at the launch.

The NGOPV was formally launched by Reyman Kochhar, wife of Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar.

The Vice Admiral of the Naval Staff of India explained that the accomplishment is a clear reflection of the unflinching efforts and hard work being put in and the growing speed, scale and strength of the Indian warship-building system.

“Such progress is only encouraging as the demand for sustained maritime presence and a larger fleet of capable platforms has never been more important,” added Vice Admiral Kochhar.

“Today world-over, we are only witnessing the rapid spillover of continental conflicts into the maritime domain. The seas by themselves are emerging as an arena of contestation, with major sealines, offshore infrastructure and the resource-rich maritime areas becoming increasingly susceptible to friction and flashpoints," he explained.

Vice Admiral Kochhar went on to speak about the West Asian crises reaching their eighth month and that the Red Sea crisis—which began 3 years ago—has shown little signs of abating.

“If anything, the disruptions at sea in the region have only widened the arc of insecurity, bringing major sealines, commercial shipping and critical maritime infrastructure into the ambit of conflict. In such a security scenario, for a maritime nation like India with a long coastline, a large Exclusive Economic Zone, and vital economic energy interest which are dependent on the seas, there is a need for maintaining a credible and persistent maritime presence in our region,” pointed out Vice Admiral Kochhar, while stressing that NGOPVs would assume significance and that they will further augment the Indian Navy’s endurance and flexibility towards a wide range of missions.

The first two NGOPVs launched were the Sangamitra, on May 20, 2026 and the Shruti on Aug 11, 2026. The 3,000 dwt warship supports a broad spectrum of missions including offshore protection, surveillance, anti-piracy, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Recovery (HADR) and mine warfare.

The warship is 113m long and 14.6m wide, and can speed up to 23 knots. Also, it has an endurance of 8500 nautical miles and a cruising speed of 14 knots.

Vice Admiral Kochhar declared that every ship launched under this programme is also a significant step towards the Indian Navy’s vision of a stronger and truly Atmanirbhar force aligned with the Indian government’s vision for an Atmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat.

India currently has 42 ships under construction in various shipyards in the country, with 10 major projects—encompassing nearly 78 ships and submarines, as well as 127 fast interceptor crafts—at various stages.

These contribute towards the country’s resolve in building a self-reliant and globally competitive maritime industrial ecosystem, and will serve as a strategic advantage in a highly competitive domain.

India’s need for preparedness at sea also comes from the expanding shadow of China in the Indian Ocean Region, high demand for everyday patrol platforms, shifting focus to modern regional security and the call for shipbuilding indigenisation.