India Signs Deal for Indigenous Marine Generators to Reduce Import Dependence
The Ministry of Defence signed a contract on Friday with Bharat Forge Limited for the acquisition of 12 sets of 1.25 MW marine gas turbine generators for the Indian Navy. The contract, valued at approximately Rs 425 crore, is intended for onboard power generation on Kolkata-class destroyers.
The generators will have at least 60% indigenous content, according to the Ministry. The contract is scheduled to be executed over a period of five years. Until now, Indian warships have relied on marine gas turbine generators imported from Russia since the 1980s.
Every warship typically uses a combination of two to four marine gas turbine generators alongside marine diesel generators for power. The development marks a step towards self-reliance in the production of critical naval components, reducing dependence on foreign suppliers.
Over the last three years, the Navy has been working to indigenise gas turbine parts and compressors to cut imports of spare parts for maintenance. This contract is part of broader efforts under the 'Make in India' initiative to boost domestic defence manufacturing.
