Goa: The Centre has approved a project worth over Rs 40,000 crore for the construction of eight Next-Generation Corvettes (NGCs) for the Indian Navy. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cleared the proposal at a meeting held on Wednesday.

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The warships will be built by two public sector shipyards: Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata and Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) in Goa. The contracts are expected to be signed with the two shipyards in the coming days.

The project is aimed at strengthening the Indian Navy's surface fleet and improving its ability to respond to maritime security challenges. It will also support domestic defence manufacturing through the construction of all eight vessels in India.

What are next-generation corvettes?

Corvettes are relatively small, fast and heavily armed warships generally used for coastal defence, surveillance and patrol operations. They are smaller than frigates and destroyers but can carry weapons and sensors for different combat roles.

The proposed Indian Navy corvettes will weigh around 2,000 tonnes and are expected to reach speeds of approximately 30 knots. They will be developed using a new stealth design created in-house by the Indian Navy, incorporating advanced shipbuilding technologies.

The vessels will function as multi-role platforms and are expected to support anti-surface, anti-submarine and anti-air warfare operations. Their stealth features, weapons systems, sensors and manoeuvrability are intended to improve the Navy's operational capabilities.

More than 70% indigenous content

The project is expected to have more than 70% indigenous content, supporting the government's Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative to increase domestic defence production and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers.

The programme will also contribute to the government's SAGAR vision, which stands for Security and Growth for All in the Region.

The order will be divided between GRSE and Goa Shipyard Limited. The project is expected to provide both shipyards with long-term work and create direct and indirect employment opportunities across the defence manufacturing and MSME sectors.

When will the Indian Navy receive the first corvette?

Construction of the first warship is expected to begin within a year of the contract process. The first vessel is targeted for delivery by 2030.

The shipyards are also exploring ways to accelerate construction and deliver the vessels ahead of schedule.

The Defence Ministry has described the next-generation corvettes as versatile platforms that will support surveillance, escort operations, deterrence, Surface Action Group operations, search and attack missions, and coastal defence.

Why does the Indian Navy need these stealth corvettes?

The approval comes amid efforts to modernise the Indian Navy's fleet and strengthen India's maritime presence in the Indian Ocean Region. The region has growing strategic importance because of major shipping routes, trade links and increasing naval activity.

The new corvettes are expected to strengthen the Navy's ability to monitor coastal and offshore waters, protect maritime interests and respond to different types of threats. Their multi-role design will allow them to undertake anti-submarine, anti-air and anti-surface operations.

The project also reflects India's focus on building advanced defence platforms domestically. By assigning the order to GRSE and Goa Shipyard Limited, the programme is expected to strengthen local shipbuilding capacity, support associated industries and create employment.

The next steps include signing contracts with the two shipyards and beginning construction. The first corvette is targeted for delivery by 2030, although the overall delivery schedule for all eight vessels has not been specified in the supplied reports.

The project will add to the Navy's wider modernisation programme, which includes new frigates, destroyers and fleet support ships.