Question : DEVELOPMENT OF AIR DEFENCE SHIP

(a) whether the work on the prestigious air defence ship at Cochin shipyard has since been commenced; and

(b) if so, the progress made in this regard so far?

MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI GEORGE FERNANDES)

(a) & (b): While physical construction of Air Defence Ship at the Cochin Shipyard Ltd., has not yet been started, the following activities in regard to the Air Defence Ship project have already commenced:

(i) Generation of Baseline drawings by the Design Directorate of the Indian Navy.

(ii) Augmentation of facilities at Cochin Shipyard Ltd., at the cost of Rs. 30 crores has been sanctioned.

(iii) Approval for conduct of Hydrodynamic Model Test has been granted.