Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. (GRSE), a Navratna Defence Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Defence, has signed a contract with the Indian Navy for the construction of five Next Generation Corvettes (NGCs), marking a major milestone in India’s indigenous warship-building programme.
Valued at approximately ₹32,000 crore, the contract was signed in New Delhi by Shri Dinesh Kumar, IAS, Joint Secretary and Acquisition Manager (MS), Ministry of Defence, and Cdr Shantanu Bose, IN (Retd), Director (Shipbuilding), GRSE. The signing ceremony was attended by Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, IAS, GRSE Chairman and Managing Director Cmde PR Hari, IN (Retd), and other senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, Indian Navy and GRSE.
GRSE emerged as the lowest bidder (L1) for the prestigious project. The contract reinforces India’s commitment to strengthening indigenous defence manufacturing under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Drawing on its extensive experience in building guided-missile and anti-submarine warfare corvettes, GRSE will construct the next-generation vessels with enhanced combat capabilities, advanced sensors and sophisticated weapons systems.
Each corvette will measure 127 metres in length, with a beam of 17.6 metres and a specified displacement-related deadweight tonnage of 4,950 tonnes. Designed for an endurance of 14 days at sea without replenishment and a maximum speed of 26 knots, the vessels will accommodate 11 officers and 139 sailors.
The warships will feature a Combined Diesel and Gas Turbine–Cross-Connect (CODAG-CC) propulsion system driving two Controllable Pitch Propellers (CPP). They are designed to undertake a wide range of missions, including anti-ship and ship-to-surface missile attacks, anti-missile defence, anti-submarine warfare, escort operations, maritime interdiction and local naval defence.
Their advanced weapons suite will include Medium Range Anti-Ship Missiles, Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (MRSAM), 324 mm torpedo tubes, an OTO Melara 76 mm Super Rapid Gun Mount, an AK-630 Close-In Weapon System and 12.7 mm stabilised remote-controlled guns.
The sensor package will comprise an Electro-Optical Infrared Search and Track (EOIRST) system and a Multi-Function Surveillance, Track and Guidance Radar (MFSTAR). Helicopter-operating capabilities will further enhance the vessels’ operational flexibility.
GRSE is currently building nine warships for the Indian Navy, comprising one Project 17A guided-missile frigate, four Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW-SWCs) and four Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels. The shipyard is also executing orders for 36 other platforms, including 13 vessels for export.
With a legacy spanning more than six decades, GRSE has delivered 118 warships to the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and friendly foreign nations, further consolidating its position as one of India’s leading indigenous warship builders.
The latest contract is expected to provide a significant boost to India’s domestic defence shipbuilding ecosystem and strengthen the country’s maritime defence preparedness.