MoD signs ₹498.58 crore contract with Cochin Shipyard for INS Betwa refit and propulsion upgrade

New Delhi: The Ministry of Defence has signed a ₹498.58 crore contract with Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) for the normal refit and re-powering of the Indian Navy's Brahmaputra-class guided-missile frigate INS Betwa. The agreement was signed in New Delhi on November 11, 2026, in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, marking a major step towards modernising the warship's propulsion and combat systems.

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Under the contract, INS Betwa will undergo a significant propulsion transformation, replacing its existing steam-based propulsion system with a diesel-engine-based system. The refit will also include the installation of a modernised weapon suite aimed at improving the frigate's combat capabilities and overall operational effectiveness.

Commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 7, 2004, INS Betwa is the second indigenously built Brahmaputra-class guided-missile frigate. The approximately 3,600-tonne warship is designed for multiple naval operations, including surface warfare, air defence and maritime surveillance.

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According to the Defence Ministry, the project will strengthen India's indigenous ship repair and maintenance ecosystem, particularly its ability to undertake complex propulsion transformations and modernisation of existing naval platforms. More than 50 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are expected to participate, generating employment opportunities across the shipbuilding and ancillary industries.

The contract also supports the government's Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives by expanding domestic capabilities in naval maintenance and modernisation. The project represents an important effort to enhance the operational effectiveness of existing warships alongside India's ongoing indigenous naval shipbuilding programmes.

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