The Indian Navy’s next-generation offshore patrol vessel (NGOPV), Yard 3037, named Shruti, was launched at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata on Tuesday, marking another milestone in India’s drive towards indigenous warship construction.
The vessel was launched by Manika Sadhu in the presence of Vice Admiral Sanjay Sadhu, Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition. Senior officials from the Indian Navy, Ministry of Defence (MoD) and GRSE attended the launch ceremony.
The NGOPV programme is being undertaken concurrently by two Indian shipyards – GRSE in Kolkata and Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) in Goa. The indigenously designed and built vessels are intended to strengthen the Navy’s offshore patrol capabilities and augment its existing fleet of Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) and Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels.
The new ships will be capable of undertaking a range of multi-domain maritime missions, including maritime surveillance, search and rescue operations, protection of offshore assets, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), and anti-piracy operations.
The vessel has been named Shruti, drawing from India’s ancient civilisational heritage and referring to the four Vedas. Its crest features the constellation of Ursa Major along with a red-and-white lighthouse, reflecting the vessel’s maritime role and heritage.
The launch of Shruti underscores the Indian Navy’s continued focus on strengthening indigenous shipbuilding capabilities. It also aligns with the government’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and the Make in India initiative in the defence sector.
