<p>India is set to export its first indigenously built warship, Barracuda, to the Mauritius later this month to mark a new beginning for indigenous defence production.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Kolkata, the Rs 350-crore warship will be used by the coastguard of the island nation, which plays a vital role in India’s strategic matrix in the Indian Ocean region.<br /><br />The offshore patrol vessel can be used for anti-piracy operations, anti-poaching operations, search and rescue, helicopter operations (without hangar) and oil spill removal among others.<br /><br />In the sea trial, the ship performed better than specified requirements as it attained a maximum speed of 22.5 knots against the contractual need of 20 knot, said a GRSE official.<br /><br />Satisfied with the Barracuda’s performance, Mauritius is likely to award fresh contracts worth more than Rs 1,000 crore to GRSE to manufacture two fast-attack craft and 10 fast-interceptor craft and the negotiations are in an advance stage of conclusion, sources said.<br /><br />The Kolkata-based ship builder is not the only yard exporting smaller vessels for the navy and coastguard of friendly nations. <br /><br />Goa Shipyard, too, has a contract with Sri Lanka to supply two off-shore patrol vessels. Interestingly, both GRSE and Goa shipyard have poor track record in export.<br /><br />Exports yet to kick off <br /><br />So far, India’s military export, however, has not taken off well though New Delhi is one of the world’s largest arms importers. <br /><br />In the last three fiscal, India’s export was Rs 512.48 crore in 2011-12; Rs 446.75 crore in 2012-13 and Rs 686.27 crore in 2013-14.<br /><br />Till September, 2014, India’s total defence equipment export was pegged at a lowly value of Rs 166.67 crore, as per the information shared by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in the Lok Sabha last month.<br /><br />Besides Hindustan Aeronautics Limited-made Dhruv advanced light weight helicopters, no major military equipment were exported from India.<br /></p>
<p>India is set to export its first indigenously built warship, Barracuda, to the Mauritius later this month to mark a new beginning for indigenous defence production.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Kolkata, the Rs 350-crore warship will be used by the coastguard of the island nation, which plays a vital role in India’s strategic matrix in the Indian Ocean region.<br /><br />The offshore patrol vessel can be used for anti-piracy operations, anti-poaching operations, search and rescue, helicopter operations (without hangar) and oil spill removal among others.<br /><br />In the sea trial, the ship performed better than specified requirements as it attained a maximum speed of 22.5 knots against the contractual need of 20 knot, said a GRSE official.<br /><br />Satisfied with the Barracuda’s performance, Mauritius is likely to award fresh contracts worth more than Rs 1,000 crore to GRSE to manufacture two fast-attack craft and 10 fast-interceptor craft and the negotiations are in an advance stage of conclusion, sources said.<br /><br />The Kolkata-based ship builder is not the only yard exporting smaller vessels for the navy and coastguard of friendly nations. <br /><br />Goa Shipyard, too, has a contract with Sri Lanka to supply two off-shore patrol vessels. Interestingly, both GRSE and Goa shipyard have poor track record in export.<br /><br />Exports yet to kick off <br /><br />So far, India’s military export, however, has not taken off well though New Delhi is one of the world’s largest arms importers. <br /><br />In the last three fiscal, India’s export was Rs 512.48 crore in 2011-12; Rs 446.75 crore in 2012-13 and Rs 686.27 crore in 2013-14.<br /><br />Till September, 2014, India’s total defence equipment export was pegged at a lowly value of Rs 166.67 crore, as per the information shared by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in the Lok Sabha last month.<br /><br />Besides Hindustan Aeronautics Limited-made Dhruv advanced light weight helicopters, no major military equipment were exported from India.<br /></p>