SOURCE: AFI
Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. (GRSE), a leading Indian defense PSU, has begun construction of the Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (NGOPVs) at their RBD Unit. The plate cutting ceremony for Yards 3039 and 3040 marks a significant milestone in this project.
Last year, GRSE secured a contract with the Ministry of Defence for the construction of four NGOPVs. The total project cost for these vessels is estimated at around Rs 3,500 crore. The first vessel is scheduled for delivery within 44 months from the contract signing date, with subsequent vessels following at six-month intervals.
Advanced Capabilities of the NGOPVs
These next-generation patrol vessels will be approximately 110 meters long, with a displacement of around 2,900 tons, and boast a maximum speed exceeding 23 knots. They are designed to fulfill a wide range of roles, including:
- Seaward defense
- Out-of-area contingency operations (OOAC)
- Non-combatant evacuation operations (NEO)
- Convoy operations and anti-piracy missions
- Counter-infiltration operations
- Anti-poaching and anti-trafficking operations
- Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR)
- Search and rescue missions
- Hospital ship duties
- Fleet maintenance support
- COMINT (communications intelligence) operations