Reliance Defence and Engineering Ltd (RDEL) has signed a Rs. 916 crore contract with the Defence Ministry for the design and construction of 14 fast patrol vessels for the Indian Coast Guard.
Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs) are medium-range, high-speed vessels; they are primarily utilised for patrol within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), coastal patrol, anti-smuggling, anti-piracy, search and rescue operations. They also support frontline warships in their hour of need.
RDEL is a wholly-owned arm of Reliance Infrastructure Ltd (RInfra).
RDEL emerged the winner through a competitive bidding process undertaken by the Ministry of Defence with participation from almost all the private sector and public sector shipyards, namely, L&T, Cochin Shipyard Ltd, Goa Shipyard Ltd and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE).
This is the first time a private sector shipyard has been awarded a contract to design and build such class of ships for the Indian armed forces. RDEL will be developing the design in-house.