Why Indian Navy is spending Rs 40,000 crore to buy 8 corvettes? How It will help India to defend India's 7000 km coastline from Pakistan to Bangladesh

The Indian Navy is preparing to acquire eight next-generation corvettes in a Rs 40,000-crore-plus project aimed at strengthening its maritime security capabilities, including coastal defence, as it works towards becoming a force with more than 200 ships by 2035. The warships, designed as high-speed, stealth-equipped surface combatants, will be built in India and are expected to undertake multiple missions, ranging from anti-submarine and anti-air warfare to maritime patrol and search and rescue operations.

The acquisition comes as the Navy pursues a broader expansion and modernisation programme to address emerging security challenges across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). India has a coastline of approximately 7,000 km, while a significant share of its trade moves through maritime routes, making the protection of sea lanes and coastal waters an important national security priority.

What makes the eight next-generation corvettes special?

The eight corvettes will be approximately 2,000-tonne warships capable of reaching speeds of around 30 knots. They will feature a new stealth design developed in-house by the Indian Navy, incorporating advanced shipbuilding technologies.

Designed as adaptable, multi-role platforms, the vessels will be capable of conducting anti-surface, anti-submarine and anti-air warfare missions. Their responsibilities will also include coastal defence, maritime patrol and search and rescue operations.

The combination of stealth features, advanced weapons and sensors, and high manoeuvrability is expected to improve the Navy's ability to undertake different maritime security missions. Their multi-role design will allow them to serve operational requirements across the Indian Ocean Region.

How will the corvettes strengthen India's coastal defence?

The corvettes are being designed to perform coastal defence and maritime security missions, adding to the Indian Navy's surface combatant capabilities. Their ability to undertake anti-surface, anti-submarine and anti-air warfare operations will allow them to address different kinds of threats at sea.

The project is part of a much wider effort to expand the Navy's fleet and strengthen its ability to protect India's maritime interests. The country's seas are strategically important for trade and national security. According to the Ministry of Commerce, 95% of India's trade by volume, amounting to 855 million tonnes, and 77% by value moves through maritime routes.

Protecting these sea lines of communication is therefore a major consideration in the Navy's modernisation plans. The eight corvettes will add to the range of vessels being acquired to strengthen the country's maritime security architecture.

Over 70% indigenous content, GRSE and Goa Shipyard to build warships

The project will have more than 70% indigenous content, in line with the government's Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative and its push to expand domestic defence manufacturing. All eight warships will be constructed in India.

The order, valued at more than Rs 40,000 crore, will be divided between Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata and Goa Shipyard Limited in Goa. The programme is expected to provide both shipyards with long-term order book visibility and generate thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities across the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) ecosystem.

The project is also linked to the government's SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision, which places emphasis on India's role in regional maritime security.

When will the first next-generation corvette be delivered?

Construction of the first corvette is expected to begin within a year, according to the reporter input. The first vessel is targeted for delivery by 2030, while efforts are underway to accelerate the construction schedule.

Deliveries of the eight warships are expected to begin over the next four to five years, according to information shared by defence sources. The project will add to the Navy's ongoing warship-building programme, which includes Nilgiri-class frigates, next-generation destroyers and fleet support ships.

Indian Navy's plan to become a 200-plus ship force by 2035

The corvette acquisition is one part of a much larger expansion plan. In February, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi said the Navy was adding an indigenous warship or submarine approximately every 40 days.

He said the Navy was working towards becoming a force with more than 200 ships by 2035, adding that all 52 ships on order at the time were being built in Indian shipyards. Tripathi also said the Navy's long-term objective was to extend self-reliance beyond platforms to individual components and build a fully self-reliant force by 2047.

The Navy currently operates around 145 ships and submarines.

The expansion programme includes four landing platform docks of up to 29,000 tonnes, five fleet support ships of 40,000 tonnes each, 100 next-generation fast interceptor boats and 20 remotely manned fast interceptor vessels. Its plans also include 10 nuclear-powered warships, 20 high-endurance underwater vehicles for anti-submarine warfare, 2,000 extended-range anti-submarine warfare rockets, more than 120 medium-altitude long-endurance drones and 15 high-altitude pseudo-satellites. The list also includes more than 50 remotely piloted systems, each comprising three drones.

Navy has 42 vessels on order, gets initial clearance for 78 more

Vice Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar said on Monday that 42 naval vessels were already on order, while the Navy had received the government's initial approval to procure another 78 ships and submarines, along with 120 fast interceptor craft. The combined procurement programme is estimated to be worth approximately Rs 2.41 trillion.

The 78 platforms and 120 fast interceptor craft have received Acceptance of Necessity (AoN), which formally recognises the armed forces' requirement for specific equipment or capabilities and marks the first stage of the procurement process. Their acquisition is at different stages, Kochhar said.

He also said the programme to acquire landing platform docks was progressing, with qualified shipyards recently invited to submit competitive bids. These amphibious warships are designed to transport and land troops, vehicles and equipment.

The Navy's submarine fleet is also part of its modernisation requirements. The Rs 32,000-crore project to build three additional French-origin Scorpene submarines remains stalled. India currently operates six Scorpene submarines, along with four German HDW and seven older Russian Kilo-class submarines.