The Cabinet Committee on Security approved the acquisition of these ships during its meeting on August 16, 2023. The ministry says the deal will be a major boost towards achieving the goal of self-reliance in the defence manufacturing as these ships will be indigenously designed and constructed by HSL, Visakhapatnam.
The ministry says the fleet support ships of 44,000 tons will be the first of its kind to be built in India by an Indian Shipyard. This project will generate employment of nearly 1.69 crore mandays over a period of eight years. The construction of these ships will provide a new dimension to the Indian shipbuilding Industry and encourage active participation of associated industries, including MSMEs.
With the majority of the equipment and systems being sourced from indigenous manufacturers, these vessels will be a proud flag bearer of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ in consonance with the ‘Make in India’ initiatives of the government, the defence ministry says.
