Kolkata's GRSE Secures ₹32,000 Crore Indian Navy Contract to Build Five Next Generation Corvettes
Kolkata's GRSE Secures ₹32,000 Crore Indian Navy Contract to Build Five Next Generation Corvettes
Kolkata-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) has secured a major defence contract worth approximately ₹32,000 crore from the Indian Navy to construct five Next Generation Corvettes. The shipbuilder emerged as the lowest bidder for the project, marking a significant development for Kolkata's shipbuilding industry and India's domestic defence manufacturing sector.
Under the contract, GRSE will construct five advanced warships, each measuring 127 metres in length, with a specified deadweight of 4,950 tonnes. The vessels will have a maximum speed of 26 knots and an endurance of 14 days at sea. They will be equipped with advanced weapons, surveillance systems and helicopter-operating facilities to support a range of maritime operations.
₹53,866.50 Crore Programme to Deliver Eight Next Generation Corvettes
The contract forms part of a larger ₹53,866.50-crore Indian Navy programme for the construction of eight Next Generation Corvettes. While GRSE will build five vessels, Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) will be responsible for constructing the remaining three warships.
The project is aimed at strengthening the Indian Navy's operational capabilities through the induction of advanced, domestically built warships. The corvettes will undertake a range of missions, including anti-submarine warfare, air defence, escort operations and maritime security.
Their advanced surveillance and weapons systems, along with helicopter-operating capabilities, are expected to support the Navy in carrying out complex maritime operations.
Major Employment Opportunities Across Shipbuilding and Ancillary Industries
Beyond its strategic importance for India's maritime defence capabilities, the programme is also expected to generate significant economic and employment opportunities.
According to the project estimates, the construction programme is projected to generate approximately 5.32 crore person-days of employment over 10 years. The employment opportunities will extend beyond the primary shipyards to ancillary industries and the wider manufacturing ecosystem.
The programme is expected to benefit several segments of the industrial supply chain, including component manufacturers, engineering firms and other supporting industries associated with naval shipbuilding.
A Major Milestone for Kolkata's Defence Manufacturing Industry
GRSE's latest contract reinforces Kolkata's position in India's shipbuilding and defence manufacturing landscape. Headquartered in Kolkata, the company has been involved in building a range of vessels for the Indian Navy and other maritime organisations.
The ₹32,000-crore order further strengthens the company's role in India's indigenous warship-building capabilities while bringing a major defence manufacturing project to West Bengal.
With five Next Generation Corvettes to be built at its shipyard, GRSE's latest order represents a significant development for Kolkata's industrial ecosystem, with the potential to generate long-term business and employment opportunities across the region.
The project also highlights the growing scale of India's domestic defence manufacturing programmes and the role of established shipyards in supporting the country's maritime security requirements.