Indian Shipyards Accelerate Warship Production with Advanced Modular Construction, Aims to Rival Asian Shipbuilding Giants

Indian shipyards are adopting cutting-edge construction techniques to boost their warship production capabilities and compete with leading Asian shipbuilding giants.

A key strategy in this endeavor is the implementation of advanced modular construction, which has already demonstrated significant improvements in streamlining shipbuilding processes.

This method involves constructing ships in large, pre-fabricated blocks, each weighing approximately 250 tonnes. These blocks, encompassing sections like the hull, superstructure, and internal systems, are meticulously engineered to include all necessary cabling and piping.

This ensures that when assembled, the components align perfectly for welding and final integration, reducing construction time and enhancing the quality and precision of the build.

The construction of the Nilgiri-class warships exemplifies the success of this approach. These advanced frigates, enhanced versions of the earlier Shivalik-class, are among the most sophisticated naval vessels India has produced. By adopting modular construction, the time required from keel laying to commissioning has been dramatically reduced.

While the initial Nilgiri-class ships took 76 months to complete – already a significant improvement over the 108 months average for the Shivalik class – projections indicate that the subsequent four ships in the series will be operational within just 60 months.

This accelerated production timeline is not solely attributed to improved construction methods but also reflects a broader strategy of capacity enhancement in Indian shipyards. The advantages of modular construction are numerous:

• Reduced construction time:Building in modules that can be worked on simultaneously significantly shortens the overall construction timeline.
• Enhanced quality control: Precision in block construction leads to fewer errors and rework, ensuring higher quality ships.
• Improved cost efficiency: Faster build times and less waste translate to more cost-effective shipbuilding processes.

In addition to adopting modular construction, Indian shipyards are investing in infrastructure upgrades, modern equipment, and workforce training to further enhance their capabilities.

This push is part of a larger vision to elevate India's position in the global shipbuilding market, currently dominated by countries like China, South Korea, and Japan.

By embracing these advanced techniques and investing in their workforce, Indian shipyards are poised to become major players in the international shipbuilding arena.

 

Army Postal Service Corps Honors Legacy of Muleteers with Special Cover as Animal Transport Units Retire Training or Deception? Likely Rafale or Tejas MkII Fighter Jet Mockup Spotted at Bareilly Air Force Station Sparks Speculation

[desigandu]

Good, but Bharat needs more, quickly…

1. At least 2 major shipyards with the capability to make carriers around 75-80,000 tons.
2. Capability to complete ships up to 10-12,000 tons and SSKs within 36 months of placing orders, and larger ones within 60 months maximum.
3. Capability for concurrent shipbuilding of major surface combatants - meaning 3-4 classes at the same time in various stages of construction, like Destroyers, Frigates, LHDs/LPDs, and SSKs.
4. Specialization - at least 2 shipyards specialize in Destroyers, Frigates, and SSKS, while others focus on Corvettes, Patrol Vessels, and Support Ships.
5. Large-scale civilian capability besides military ones will infuse technology and practices so that around 2035, Bharat can be in the Top 5 global shipbuilders and by 2047 amongst the Top 3. This may involve inviting leading Japanese and South Korean shipbuilders to form JVs and move low-medium type production to Bharat from these countries.
6. More shipyards spread across the country for geographical reach, access, and grooming of talent, and distributed resources, while some yards specialize in MRO, repairs, and overhauling, etc., while encouraging suppliers to set up shop close by in an ecosystem.
7. Government incentives to invest in capacity and capability, while encouraging specialization.
8. GOI needs 2-4 large-scale sovereign wealth funds, each with at least $1-2.5T in funds (funded via pension plans, insurance, and GOI, States) that invest globally in strategic industries with the blessing of the host countries, so Bharat can access technology, practices, and also produce overseas as it strives for larger industrial capacity. Bharat should not aspire to become another China, but have enough capacity for its industrial needs, leveraging its strength in services, while also helping the Western and Global South economies as a trusted and secure supply chain partner.

A great example will be our Steel Industry, which used to be way behind when I did a summer internship at Bhilai Steel Plant, but now our industry is the 2nd largest. That sort of growth can be replicated in shipbuilding as it is declared a priority industry and mission-critical infrastructure.

 

[Sandeep]

This is welcome progress but now we need to expand this across the industry. The private sector should get this advanced software and technology.

 

[CaptainAbi]

To put things into perspective, the first use of "advanced" modular construction took place during World War II by both the Japanese and the Germans. It's time for less talk and clickbait promotions, and more tangible, clearly evident results!