INDIA’S MARITIME DEFENCE GETS A ₹40,000-CRORE BOOST: EIGHT INDIGENOUS STEALTH CORVETTES CLEARED FOR NAVY

October 30, 2026

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 30, 2026: The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a defence procurement project worth more than ₹40,000 crore for the construction of eight Next-Generation Corvettes (NGCs) for the Indian Navy, marking a significant development in India's naval modernisation programme.

The contracts for the construction of the eight warships are expected to be signed in the coming days with two state-owned shipbuilding companies: Kolkata-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) and Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL).

The proposed warships will feature an indigenous stealth design developed by the Indian Navy. Each vessel is expected to have a displacement of approximately 2,000 tonnes and attain speeds of around 30 knots, combining high manoeuvrability with advanced maritime combat capabilities.

Designed as adaptable, multi-role naval platforms, the corvettes will undertake various maritime security operations across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Their operational responsibilities are expected to include maritime surveillance, coastal defence, escort missions, deterrence and search-and-attack operations.

The programme is also expected to strengthen India's domestic defence manufacturing ecosystem by expanding the technological and industrial capabilities of its public-sector shipyards. The participation of GRSE is particularly significant for Kolkata's shipbuilding industry, while the partnership with Goa Shipyard will distribute construction responsibilities between the two facilities.

The Indian Navy is targeting delivery of the first vessel by 2030, although efforts are reportedly underway to accelerate the construction schedule.

The project forms part of India's broader maritime security objectives under the SAGAR initiative — Security and Growth for All in the Region — and the government's Atmanirbhar Bharat programme, which seeks to increase indigenous production and reduce dependence on foreign defence suppliers.

The clearance represents a major investment in India's naval capabilities, domestic shipbuilding infrastructure and long-term maritime security interests in the strategically important Indian Ocean.