<p class="rtejustify">The Defence Ministry on Monday approved construction of half-a-dozen next-generation naval offshore patrol vessels that would be constructed at an Indian shipyard at a cost of Rs 4,941 crore.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">The approval was given by the Defence Acquisition Council headed by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">The next generation OPVs will be built in indigenous shipyards and fitted with state-of-the-art sensor suite with increased endurance. “They are called next generation OPV because they would be having better sensors and radars,” said an officer.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">These platforms will strengthen maritime security by undertaking a multitude of operational roles both in blue water and littorals.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">Their role would include seaward defence, protection of offshore assets, maritime interdiction operations, 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, the defence ministry said in a statement.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">Indian Navy currently operates four Sarya class and six Sukanya class OPVs. In 2011, Navy gave a Rs 2,974 crore contract to private shipyard Pipavav for construction of five OPVs. The yard has missed several deadlines and now is expected to deliver them between 2018 and 2020 – years behind the original schedule.</p>
<p class="rtejustify">The Defence Ministry on Monday approved construction of half-a-dozen next-generation naval offshore patrol vessels that would be constructed at an Indian shipyard at a cost of Rs 4,941 crore.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">The approval was given by the Defence Acquisition Council headed by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">The next generation OPVs will be built in indigenous shipyards and fitted with state-of-the-art sensor suite with increased endurance. “They are called next generation OPV because they would be having better sensors and radars,” said an officer.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">These platforms will strengthen maritime security by undertaking a multitude of operational roles both in blue water and littorals.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">Their role would include seaward defence, protection of offshore assets, maritime interdiction operations, 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, the defence ministry said in a statement.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">Indian Navy currently operates four Sarya class and six Sukanya class OPVs. In 2011, Navy gave a Rs 2,974 crore contract to private shipyard Pipavav for construction of five OPVs. The yard has missed several deadlines and now is expected to deliver them between 2018 and 2020 – years behind the original schedule.</p>
