SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
The Indian Navy is set to receive a major boost with the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approving the procurement of eight Next Generation Corvettes (NGCs) on June 6th, 2022. This project, estimated to cost ?36,000 crore (US$4.5 billion), will see the introduction of advanced multi-role warships built using indigenous technology.
In May 2024, the Navy issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) inviting participation from qualified shipyards. Four contenders are expected to vie for the contract: Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Larsen & Toubro (L&T), and one undisclosed shipyard.
To expedite the induction process, the contract will be divided between two winning bidders. The lowest bidder (L1) will secure a contract for five NGCs, while the second-lowest bidder (L2) will construct the remaining three at the same unit cost as L1.
The NGCs will also boast a 76mm SRGM main gun, at least eight surface-to-surface missiles, and a multi-function radar for local naval defense. Notably, WDB conducted initial hull configuration testing using a scaled model at the National Ship Design and Research Centre (NSDL) last year.
These next-generation corvettes will be versatile platforms capable of undertaking a broad spectrum of missions, including:
- Land attack operations
- Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)
- Anti-Air Warfare (AAW)
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