DAC approves acquisition of 6 new OPVs

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) accorded approval for the procurement of six indigenously designed and manufactured Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (NGOPVs) for the Indian Navy at an approximate cost of Rs. 4941 crore.

In a meeting chaired by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the Ministry of Defence laid stress on the Coastal Defence of the country.

"The new vessel will be better armed; will cover longer distances (better endurance), multi-role choppers, better stealth features, state of the art equipment, better sensors," an officer told ANI.

The NGOPVs will be built in indigenous shipyards and will be fitted with state-of-the-art sensor suite with increased endurance, and will have a higher percentage of indigenous components.

These platforms will strengthen maritime security by undertaking a multitude of operational roles both in blue water and littorals, and will include seaward defence, protection of offshore assets, maritime interdiction operations and search and seizure operations, surveillance missions, mine warfare, anti-piracy missions, counter infiltration operations, anti-poaching/trafficking operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and search and rescue missions.