The Ministry of Defence on Wednesday, November 11 signed a contract worth Rs 498.58 crore with Cochin Shipyard Limited for the normal refit and re-powering of the Indian Navy's INS Betwa, the ministry said in a statement. The contract was inked in New Delhi in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.

Source: The Hindu BusinessLine

INS Betwa is a Brahmaputra-class guided-missile frigate of the Indian Navy. Under the contract, the warship will undergo a major propulsion system transformation, with its existing steam-based propulsion system replaced by a diesel-engine-based propulsion system, the Defence Ministry said.

Source: IANS via AsiaPost

Rs 498.58 croreContract value
50+MSMEs expected to take part
2004INS Betwa commissioned

The refit will also upgrade the ship's combat capabilities through the installation of a modernised weapon suite, enhancing its operational effectiveness, according to the ministry's release, carried by news agency ANI.

Source: ANI via Daily Prabhat

The Defence Ministry said the contract will strengthen indigenous capabilities in India's ship repair and maintenance ecosystem, particularly for complex propulsion system transformation and modernisation of naval platforms. The project is expected to involve more than 50 MSMEs and generate significant employment across the shipbuilding and ancillary industries.

INS Betwa was commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 7, 2004, and is the second indigenously built Brahmaputra-class frigate. The re-powering is expected to extend the decades-old warship's service life with a more efficient propulsion plant.