The Indian Navy will host a landmark shipbuilding seminar titled “Nation Building Through Shipbuilding” on Wednesday at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi to mark the delivery of its 100th indigenously designed warship.
Organised by the Warship Design Bureau (WDB), the Navy’s premier design organisation, the seminar celebrates a major milestone in India’s defence manufacturing journey. The WDB, functioning under Naval Headquarters, has led the design of all 100 indigenous warships, reinforcing India’s commitment to self-reliance in naval capabilities.
The 100th ship, Yard 12652 (Udaygiri), is the second vessel of the advanced Project 17A stealth frigate series and was constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDSL). Its delivery marks a high point in India’s six-decade-long indigenous warship design programme, which began with the establishment of the Central Design Office in 1964.
The event will bring together stakeholders from the Government of India, Indian Navy, shipyards, defence industries, classification societies, and academia. Discussions will focus on strategic policy issues, global shipbuilding technologies, and the challenges faced by Indian shipyards in meeting international standards.
India’s naval shipbuilding success is seen as a cornerstone for national defence and economic growth. A robust shipbuilding ecosystem not only enhances maritime security but also drives innovation, generates employment, boosts MSMEs, and builds an industrial support chain critical to national development.
The WDB has played a key role in this transformation, evolving from the Directorate of Naval Design in 1970 to today’s cutting-edge bureau responsible for over 20 classes of warships—from patrol boats to aircraft carriers.
The seminar aims to chart a course for the future of indigenous warship design while reinforcing India’s position as a rising maritime power.
