Keel laying ceremony of second of the five Fleet Support Ships (FSS) of Indian Navy was held at Kattupalli. Indian Navy had signed a contract with Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) for acquisition of five FSS in August 2023, with delivery commencing mid-2027. The project will boost the Indian shipbuilding industry, furthering the government’s initiatives of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, ‘Make in India’ and ‘Make for the World’ The ships would be equipped for Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations for evacuation of personnel and expeditious delivery of relief material during natural calamities. The scheme will generate employment over a period of three years and encourage active participation of various Indian industries, including MSMEs. The Ministry of Defence on February 8 signed a. contract with Bharat Electronics Limited for procurement of 28 EON-51 systems for 11 New Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels. and three Cadet Training Ships for the Indian Navy at a total cost of Rs 642.17 crore.