Context: Ministry of Defence has signed a deal to buy eleven Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels and six Next Generation Missile Vessels at Rs 19,600 crore.
Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (NGOPV):
- The contract for 11 NGOPVs worth Rs 9,781 crore was signed between Goa Shipyard Limited and Garden Reach Shipyard Limited under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category.
- NGOPVs will increase the Navy’s various operational capabilities such as Anti-Piracy, Counter-Infiltration, Anti-Poaching, Anti-Trafficking, Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations, Search and Rescue (SAR), Protection of Offshore Assets etc.
- An offshore patrol vessel (OPV) is a small surface ship designed for coastal defence.
- They can carry a crew of up to 80-90 sailors, but are much more lightly armed — and therefore much cheaper — than capital warships like corvettes, frigates, or destroyers.
- For performing tasks that do not require heavy fighting, OPVs offer a far more economical option than using heavily armed capital warships.
- These warships are well equipped to tackle a range of roles such as maritime security, border control, anti-smuggling, counter-terrorism, disaster relief etc.
Next Generation Missile Vessels (NGMV):
- The contract for constructing six Next Generation Missile Vessels (NGMVs) was signed with Cochin Shipyard (CSL) at Rs 9,805 crore.
- NGMVs would be heavily armed war vessels incorporating stealth, high speed and offensive capability.
- The primary role of the ships would be to provide offensive capability against enemy warships, merchantmen and land targets.
- These warships will be capable of conducting maritime strike operations, Anti-Surface Warfare Operations and would be a potent instrument of sea denial for enemy ships, especially at choke points.
- In the defensive role, these ships would be employed for Local Naval Defence operations and seaward defence of the Offshore Development Area.