India to counter China with naval power; eight warships to be built at Rs 40,000 crore

NEW DELHI: India is planning to build advanced warships at a cost of nearly 40,000 crore to strengthen its naval capabilities. As part of this effort, eight next-generation corvette-class ships will be constructed. Sources in the central government indicate that the ministerial committee chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to approve the project soon.

These next-generation corvettes will have stealth capabilities, enabling them to evade radar detection. A majority of the ship components will be manufactured domestically. The plan is to begin construction immediately after receiving approval from the committee. It is expected that construction could start within this year once approval is granted. The first ship is likely to be inducted into the Navy by 2030, with one ship being added to service each year thereafter.

The ships are intended for anti-submarine operations, strengthening coastal defence, and conducting surface warfare. They will be designed to travel at a speed of up to 30 knots. The warships are planned to be built at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers in Kolkata and Goa Shipyard Limited. The project will be implemented under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.