The Ministry of Defence has signed contracts worth ₹53,866.7 crore with Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) and Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) to build eight Next-Generation Corvettes for the Indian Navy. The agreements were concluded on 2 November 2026, with GRSE responsible for five ships and GSL assigned the remaining three.
The programme represents a change in the way major warship construction contracts are allocated among India’s defence public-sector shipyards. According to Asian Military Review, the Navy-designed class is the first in which the participating shipyards were selected through a competitive process rather than the nomination route generally used for earlier shipbuilding programmes. GRSE emerged as the lowest bidder, while GSL described the order as the largest contract in its history.
Two shipyards will build the class
The corvettes are part of a broader Indian naval modernisation programme covering surface combatants, support vessels and carrier aviation. The project began with a Navy request for information issued in 2016 for seven vessels. The Defence Acquisition Council increased the planned number to eight in June 2022, followed by clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Security on 28 October 2026.
| Programme detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Total ships | Eight Next-Generation Corvettes |
| GRSE allocation | Five vessels |
| GSL allocation | Three vessels |
| Length and beam | 127 metres and 17.6 metres |
| Displacement | 4,950 tonnes |
| Maximum speed | 26 knots |
| Crew | 11 officers and 139 sailors |
Combat systems and propulsion
Each ship will use a combined diesel and gas turbine cross-connect propulsion system linked to two controllable-pitch propellers. The stated maximum speed is 26 knots. The design also includes a flight deck and a multifunction surveillance, track and guidance radar, giving the vessels an aviation and sensor capability alongside their weapons fit.
According to GRSE, the planned armament includes indigenously developed medium-range anti-ship missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles and 324 mm torpedo tubes. The ships will also carry a Leonardo 76 mm Super Rapid naval gun, AK-360 close-in weapon systems and 12.7 mm remote weapon stations. The published design description lists the following key features:
- Medium-range anti-ship missiles for surface warfare;
- Medium-range surface-to-air missiles for air defence;
- A flight deck and multifunction surveillance, track and guidance radar;
- 324 mm torpedo tubes for underwater warfare; and
- Leonardo 76 mm, AK-360 and 12.7 mm weapon systems.
The corvettes will measure 127 metres in length, have a beam of 17.6 metres and displace 4,950 tonnes. Their planned complement is 11 officers and 139 sailors. These figures, along with the weapons and propulsion details, were given as part of the programme description associated with the contract award.
Part of wider naval expansion
The contract comes as the Indian Navy pursues a wider fleet-building effort involving combatants, support ships and naval aviation. The programme also follows developments connected with aircraft-carrier operations: on 29 October 2026, a French Navy Rafale M fighter conducted its first landing trials aboard the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant ahead of the planned delivery of that fighter type to India from 2029.
GSL’s earlier construction work has included offshore patrol vessels, Veer-class missile corvettes and two Talwar-class frigates. GRSE will now build the largest share of the new class, while the competitive allocation gives GSL responsibility for three ships under the same Navy modernisation programme.
