Goa Shipyard looks at building OPVs armed with missiles

Country's leading defence shipyard, Goa Shipyard Limited has submitted a proposal to the Indian Navy to construct offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) armed with missiles.

"We have submitted a proposal to the Indian Navy that all the future OPVs should be developed with the missile on board. That will give more combat muscle to the vessel. If fitted with missile the pricing of the vessel goes up only by ten per cent," GSL's Chairman and Managing Director Rear Admiral (retd) Shekhar Mital told PTI today on the sidelines of ongoing "Make in Goa" held jointly by GSL and Confederation of Indian Industries (CII).

He said GSL has the technology to construct next generation missile boats and missile corvettes which will strengthen Indian Navy's prowess off shore. Mital, the retired Naval officer, said any kind of missiles can be fitted for these OPVs. "We can even have Brahmos on the vessel. Basically, the technology would be surface to surface, which is ship to ship missiles. It won't be surface to air missiles," the CMD said.

The GSL is currently working on Defence Ministry's order of twelve mine countermeasure vessels (MCMV) costing Rs 32,000 crore.

Mital said the GSL currently has order of six OPVs for Indian Coast Guard, Two for Sri Lankan Navy, Two for Mauritian Coast Guard. "The price negotiations has also been completed for five more OPVs for the Coast Guard," he added.

The CMD said that the proposal of fitting missiles on OPVs will not include those vessels which are already under construction or whose price negotiations are done. "If Navy approves, we can do it for the future orders," he added.

Speaking about the MCMVs, Mital said the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the technology transfer for these vessels would be opened in 2-3 months. The actual construction of these vessels will start after three years. He conceded that GSL is exploring the possibility of taking technology from Korean companies.

 -business-standard