Navy gets firepower boost with Rs 53,866-crore deal for 8 next-gen corvettes

The Defence Ministry signed contracts with GRSE and Goa Shipyard for eight next-generation Navy corvettes. The project will strengthen naval capabilities, indigenous shipbuilding and employment across supporting industries.

In Short

• GRSE will construct five vessels, while Goa Shipyard will build three
• Advanced missiles, weapons and sensors will enable multi-domain naval operations
• Vessels will support trade-route security, coastal defence, surveillance and littoral combat

The Ministry of Defence has signed contracts worth Rs 53,866.50 crore with two public sector shipbuilders for the construction of eight Next Generation Corvettes (NGCs) for the Indian Navy, marking a major step towards strengthening India's indigenous warship-building capabilities.

The contracts were signed with Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE) and Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh at Kartavya Bhawan-2 in New Delhi on November 2, 2026.

Under the agreement, GRSE will construct five of the eight warships, while GSL will build the remaining three. The project is a significant milestone in India's defence manufacturing sector, as the corvettes will be indigenously designed by the Indian Navy and constructed by Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) selected through a competitive process.

ADVANCED WARSHIPS TO STRENGTHEN NAVAL CAPABILITIES

The Next Generation Corvettes will be equipped with advanced missiles, weapons and sensor suites, giving them capabilities to undertake operations across air, surface and sub-surface domains.

Their induction is expected to significantly strengthen the Indian Navy's operational capabilities, particularly in safeguarding maritime trade routes and conducting anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare operations.

The warships will also support coastal defence, littoral combat operations, maritime presence and surveillance missions, enhancing the Navy's ability to operate across different maritime environments.

PROJECT TO GENERATE EMPLOYMENT, BOOST INDIGENOUS SHIPBUILDING

Beyond strengthening naval capabilities, the project is expected to provide a major boost to India's domestic shipbuilding ecosystem by bringing together defence public sector undertakings, private shipyards and Indian industrial partners, including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The construction of the eight corvettes is expected to generate approximately 72 lakh person-days of employment in the shipyards. Another 460 lakh person-days of employment are projected in ancillary industries and MSMEs over the next 10 years.

The project will also promote the use of Made-in-India materials and equipment, indigenous technologies and Indian skills and expertise, strengthening domestic participation in defence manufacturing.

The contracts reinforce the Centre's push towards Aatmanirbharta in defence production and the commitment to the Make in India initiative.

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