Kolkata: The third of 11 next-generation offshore patrol vessels (NGOPVs) being built for the Indian Navy by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) and Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) will be launched in Kolkata on August 11, officials said on Sunday.
The launch will mark the second NGOPV to be launched by GRSE. The shipbuilder launched the first vessel, Sanghmitra, on May 20 this year. GSL launched one of the seven NGOPVs being built by it on March 31, 2026, and named the vessel Shachi.
NGOPVs to Boost Navy’s Future Fleet
The upcoming warship will be launched at GRSE by Manika Sadhu, wife of Vice Admiral Sanjay Sadhu, the Indian Navy’s Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition. Vice Admiral Sadhu will be the chief guest at the ceremony.
A senior official said the NGOPV project was progressing as scheduled and that deliveries could begin around 2028, helping the Navy move towards its target of a 200-ship fleet.
The next-generation vessels will feature greater stealth, enhanced endurance and advanced equipment and weapon systems compared with the Navy’s existing offshore patrol vessels.
113-Metre Warships With Multiple Operational Roles
The NGOPVs will be around 113 metres long and 14.6 metres wide, with a displacement of approximately 3,000 tonnes. They will be capable of speeds of up to 23 knots and have an endurance of 8,500 nautical miles at 14 knots.
With a draught requirement of only four metres, the vessels will be capable of operating in coastal waters and performing a wide range of missions, including offshore asset protection, maritime interdiction and visit, board, search and seizure operations.
The ships will also support surveillance, mine warfare, special operations, anti-piracy and counter-infiltration missions. They can be deployed for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, search and rescue, non-combatant evacuation and convoy operations.
The NGOPVs are also expected to play a role in combating poaching and trafficking and can be configured for hospital, communications intelligence and fleet maintenance support.
The Navy is also progressing towards a wider next-generation warship programme that includes next-generation corvettes, frigates, survey vessels and destroyers.