Production Commences For Advanced Missile Frigates At Goa Shipyard Ltd

Production Commences For Advanced Missile Frigates At Goa Shipyard Ltd

Wasco: Goa Shipyard Ltd carried out the first Plate Cutting today for the Advanced Missile Frigate Project for the Indian Navy. This marks the official commencement of the construction phase of the prestigious project. Vice Chief of Naval Staff VAdm G Ashok Kumar, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, presided over the ceremony over Video Conferencing. The ceremony was also attended by VAdm SR Sarma, AVSM, VSM, Chief of Materiel, Indian Navy, Shri VL Kantharao, Additional Secretary (Defence Production), RAdm Philopose Pynumootil, NM, Flag Officer Goa Naval Area and other senior dignitaries from the Ministry of Defence and the Indian Navy. 

The contract for the construction of two Missile Frigates under design and technical assistance from Russia was inked between Goa Shipyard Ltd. and the Ministry of Defence in Jan 2019. This is a critical import substitution project for the Indian Defence Shipbuilding Industry and a major boost to the ‘Make in India’ and Atma Nirbhar Bharat vision of the country. The project is also the largest to be undertaken by Goa Shipyard Ltd. in its illustrious history and represents a quantum leap in its capabilities to construct sophisticated weapon platforms for the Indian Armed Forces. 
 
The P1135.6 series of frigates, customized to meet the Indian Navy’s requirements, are highly weapon-oriented and potent platforms with a mission span covering the entire spectrum of naval warfare – air, surface and sub-surface. These vessels boast of advanced stealth features such as special hull design to limit radar cross-section, low electromagnetic, infrared and under water noise signatures. The ships would carry highly sophisticated and state-of-art weapon systems and sensors, with significant indigenous content. The first ship is scheduled to be delivered in 2026.
 
Speaking on the occasion, VAdm G Ashok Kumar, VCNS said “In the present security environment, it is the need of the hour for the defence forces of our country to be fully prepared and equipped with modernized infrastructure and potent capabilities and todays Plate Cutting for the Advanced Missile Frigate Project will be another vital step towards adding strength to the Indian Navy. I heartily commend GSL for the resilience and resolve and continuing to deliver ships ahead of schedule. Providing ships and maintaining refit services in prevailing situations speaks volumes about their professionalism”
 
Cmde B B Nagpal, NM, Chairman and Managing Director, GSL said “The Advanced Missile Frigates project is the largest in the history of Goa Shipyard and will propel it into a select league of yards with the capability to construct weapon-intensive warships. The project will provide a significant boost to the indigenous shipbuilding sector in Goa and across the nation creating employment opportunities. We are expanding our vendor base three-fold to over 1,000 entities to encourage MSME participation in the project. In keeping with Goa Shipyard’s excellent track record of delivering ships on-time, all efforts are underway to ensure timely execution of the project”.
 

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