Antony to lay foundation stone of India's first defence ship building institute

New Delhi, Jan 2 (ANI): To enhance self reliance in warship production capabilities of India, Defence Minister AK Antony will lay the foundation stone of the National Institute for Research and Development in Defence Shipbuilding (NIRDESH) on Tuesday in Calicut.

NIRDESH would concentrate on enhancing self-reliance in production capabilities relating to all kinds of warships, submarines and other related platforms required by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard to safeguard our long coastline and protect maritime interests of India.

The Government of Kerala has agreed to provide more than 40 acres of land with requisite sea front for this prestigious institute.

The institute would pave the way for achieving enhanced self reliance and also augment the efforts of the Department of Defence Production in developing a robust defence industrial base by providing technology support and promote ancillary industry participation in the defence shipbuilding sector.

It would support the defence shipbuilding industry by addressing their emerging needs relating to design and construction of state of the art defence platforms including specific R and D projects to provide turnkey solutions.

NIRDESH will be an autonomous body under the aegis of Department of Defence Production and registered under the Registration of Societies Act 1860. (ANI)