Navy signs Rs.2,170 crore deal for 8 assault vessels

NEW DELHI: Navy has signed a Rs 2,170 crore contract with the Kolkata-based Defence Shipyard Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers for constructing eight amphibious assault vessels in a bid to strengthen its operational capabilities.

The contract was signed with the GRSE shipyard here yesterday to build eight Landing Craft Utility (LCU), which will enhance our capabilities to carry out amphibious operations, Navy spokesperson said here.

The proposal to build the vessels was cleared in a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) held earlier this month.

The eight new vessels with a displacement of around 800 tonnes will be built and the first vessel will be delivered in next 35 months.

The new vessels will be used to replace the existing fleet of six amphibious boats already in service, they said.

The LCU is a boat used by amphibious forces to transport equipment and troops to the shore and are capable of transporting combat vehicles and troops from amphibious assault ships to shores.

Its current fleet of LCUs are capable of carrying 35 armed troops right up to the beach and land.

The new vessels would help the Navy to bolster its amphibious warfare capabilities.

It is also planning to develop the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as a major amphibious warfare hub by setting up full-fledged training facilities and basing a sea-and-land fighting unit to provide teeth to its capability to take the battle into enemy shores.

India is in the process of building own large-size amphibious warfare vessels and has also procured a warship from the US now christened INS Jalashwa to augment its capabilities in this regard.