GRSE to Deliver Five Warships to Indian Navy by 2026-27

Introduction to Warship Deliveries

Kolkata, Aug 11: Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd has announced plans to deliver five naval vessels to the Indian Navy by the conclusion of the 2026-27 fiscal year. This information was shared by Cmde P R Hari, IN (Retd), the chairman and managing director of GRSE, during the unveiling of the Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (NGOPV) named Shruti in Kolkata.

Details of the NGOPV

Shruti marks the second launch of four NGOPVs currently under construction at GRSE, following the first vessel, Sanghmitra, which was launched on May 20 of this year.

According to Cmde Hari, "We are in the process of constructing nine warships, which includes these four NGOPVs. We aim to deliver five of these by the end of this financial year, along with launching the remaining two NGOPVs."

Specifications and Capabilities

The upcoming deliveries will include the advanced stealth guided missile frigate Vindhyagiri and four Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASWSWCs). The launch of Shruti was officiated by Manika Sadhu, spouse of Vice Admiral Sanjay Sadhu, who serves as the Controller of Warship Production & Acquisition (CWP&A) for the Indian Navy, during a ceremonial event filled with traditional rituals.

Vice Admiral Sadhu was the chief guest for the occasion.

Enhanced Features of NGOPVs

The NGOPVs are designed to be significantly larger than previous Offshore Patrol Vessels, boasting enhanced endurance and advanced onboard sensors and equipment. Each vessel will measure approximately 113 meters in length and 14.6 meters in width, with a displacement of 3,000 tonnes.

These ships are capable of reaching speeds of up to 23 knots and can cover 8,500 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 14 knots. They are intended for a variety of missions, including coastal operations, maritime interdiction, and VBSS (visit, board, search, and seizure) operations.

Operational Versatility

In addition to their primary roles, the NGOPVs will engage in surveillance, mine warfare, and support special operations. They will also be involved in 'Out of Area' Contingency Operations, non-combatant evacuations, convoy missions, anti-piracy efforts, and counter-infiltration tasks.

Furthermore, these vessels will assist in humanitarian aid, disaster relief, and search and rescue operations, functioning as hospital and COMINT ships while also providing fleet maintenance support.

Concerns Over Future Orders

Despite the positive developments, Cmde Hari expressed concerns regarding the current lack of new orders from the Navy and Coast Guard. He stated, "Our primary focus is on warship construction. Once we complete the delivery of these five vessels, our order book for naval platforms will significantly decrease, which is concerning. However, I remain optimistic that we will receive orders for the Next Generation Corvettes soon," concluded the GRSE CMD.