The Indian Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) for the acquisition of five fleet support ships (FSS) for the Indian Navy.
As informed, the overall cost of the deal is approx. Rs 19,000 crore. It would be a major boost towards achieving the goal of self-reliance in defence manufacturing as these ships will be indigenously designed and constructed by HSL, Visakhapatnam.
The Cabinet Committee on Security approved the acquisition of these ships during its meeting on August 16, 2023.
The FSS will be employed for replenishing ships at sea with fuel, water, ammunition and stores, enabling the Indian naval fleet to operate for prolonged periods without returning to harbor.
The induction of these ships will significantly enhance the blue water capability of the Indian Navy. The ships can also be deployed for evacuation of people and human assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations.
The FSS of 44,000 tons will be the first to be built in India by an Indian Shipyard.
According to the officials, the construction of these ships will provide a new dimension to the Indian shipbuilding Industry and encourage active participation of associated industries, including MSMEs.