INDIAN NAVY AWARDS GRSE WITH $3 BILLION-PLUS CONTRACT FOR THREE NEW STEALTH FRIGATES
NEW DELHI - The Indian Navy has awarded defense public sector unit (PSU) Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) with an INR200 billion ($3.17 billion) contract for the construction of three of the Navy's seven new Project 17A stealth frigates. These new stealth frigates will be in the 6,700-ton range. The other four ships are being constructed by Mazagon Docks at its shipyard in Mumbai.
The new Project 17A class will build off the Project 17 'Shivalik' class of three frigates, which were commissioned between 2010 and 2012. The Indian Navy green-lighted the project in late 2013 and it was signed off on by the Cabinet Committee on Security in February.
A final ship design remains in the drafting stage. Once this is completed, GRSE will begin construction with delivery to the Indian Navy beginning in 2023 and likely running through 2025.