Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Limited is eagerly anticipating the contract signing for Next Generation Corvettes (NGCs) for the Indian Navy. The Navy is seeking eight of these warships. Almost everything has been finalized for this project valued at around Rs 40,000 crore, pending a final approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).
GRSE, as the lowest bidder, is expected to secure the order for five of the warships, while the remaining three are likely to be constructed by Goa Shipyard Limited. The NGCs are designed to possess “distributed lethality,” offering significant strike capabilities from compact, highly maneuverable platforms.
These warships will have a displacement of approximately 3,500 tonnes and a top speed of nearly 32 knots, with an endurance of 30 days without refueling. They are planned to be armed with eight Extended Range Brahmos cruise missiles, 16-32 Vertical Launch Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missiles, and an AK-630 close-in weapon system for air defense.
For anti-submarine operations, the NGCs will be equipped with advanced sonar systems and torpedo launchers. Additionally, they will accommodate a multi-role helicopter like the ALH Dhruv or Sea King. The vessels will also feature ELM-2248 MF-STAR AESA radar, cutting-edge electronic warfare suites, and target tracking systems.
GRSE, having delivered a significant number of warships to the Navy and Coast Guard, is currently engaged in the construction of approximately 40 platforms, with only nine being warships. During the recent launch of a Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel, GRSE’s Chairman and Managing Director Commodore P R Hari urged the Navy to expedite orders to facilitate decisions on accepting additional orders for commercial vessels.
