Cochin Shipyard awarded contract for major propulsion system overhaul and combat capability enhancement | Project to involve over 50 MSMEs and generate employment opportunities
The Ministry of Defence has signed a contract worth Rs 498.58 crore with Cochin Shipyard Limited for the normal refit and re-powering of Indian Navy warship INS Betwa, marking an important step towards strengthening the operational capabilities of the country's naval fleet.
The agreement was signed in New Delhi on November 11, 2026, in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.
Under the project, INS Betwa, a Brahmaputra-class frigate of the Indian Navy, will undergo a major transformation of its propulsion system. The existing steam-based propulsion arrangement will be replaced with a modern diesel-engine-based system, aimed at upgrading the ship's operational capabilities.
Alongside the propulsion upgrade, the refit will also include improvements to the warship's combat capabilities through the installation of a modernised weapon suite. These enhancements are expected to improve its operational effectiveness and strengthen its preparedness for naval assignments.
The project is also expected to provide a significant boost to India's domestic ship repair and maintenance industry. In particular, it will help strengthen indigenous expertise in carrying out complex propulsion system conversions and modernising naval platforms.
More than 50 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are expected to participate in the project. Their involvement is likely to generate employment opportunities and provide business opportunities across India's shipbuilding and ancillary industries.
The initiative is in line with the Government of India's vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India, with an emphasis on developing domestic expertise, reducing dependence on external capabilities and strengthening the country's indigenous naval maintenance infrastructure.
Through this major refit and re-powering programme, the Ministry of Defence aims to further enhance India's capacity to undertake advanced warship modernisation and maintenance projects within the country, while supporting the growth of the domestic defence manufacturing and shipbuilding ecosystem.