Mine countermeasures (MCM) is a topic that has gained renewed interest around the world, sparked by Iran’s closure of the Hormuz Strait. However, India is one country that is moving painfully slow to close its MCM capability gap.
The Indian Navy (IN) paid off the last of its mine countermeasures vessels (MCMV) in 2019, meaning the navy has a very limited mine countermeasures capability right now.
Following multiple failed tenders that date back more than 20 years, as well as a 2021 effort to lease MCMVs, India issued a request for information (RfI) for a dozen MCMVs in August 2023.
This programme was approved by the Defence Acquisition Council in July 2025, receiving a budget of INR450 billion (approximately US$5 billion).
The RfI mentioned that each MCMV should be able to host two compact autonomous surface vessels (AUV), four heavyweight AUVs, one ship-launched utility multi-copter or naval drone, and at least 20 smaller remotely operated vehicles (ROV).
To be delivered from 2030-37, the MCMVs are to measure 87m long and displace 2,800 tonnes. They will be well armed with a 76mm naval gun, short-range air defence missiles, and two directed-energy weapons or 30mm cannons.
However, to Asia Military Review’s knowledge, the Indian government has not issued a request for proposals yet. This means an indigenous shipbuilder has not been appointed for this project.
Nonetheless, players in the MCM space are jostling for position ahead of a tender.
For example, French company Exail and Indian firm Larsen & Toubro (L&T) jointly announced on 19 May that they had entered into a strategic collaboration that aims to deliver an unmanned MCM suite to the IN.
Their press statement noted, “L&T and Exail will together provide the Indian Navy with a state-of-the-art unmanned MCM suite, incorporating autonomous and remotely operated systems designed to detect, classify, identify and neutralise naval mines in a safe, stand-off manner.”
No contract has been awarded, but the joint statement said L&T will act as prime contractor whilst Exail is the technology partner under their strategic partnership. To meet Indian requirements for maximised local content, they have promised significant local industrial participation.
Arun Ramchandani, Senior VP & Head of Precision Engineering & Systems at L&T, said: “This partnership brings together L&T, with its extensive defence products legacy and maritime capabilities, and Exail, a global leader in unmanned maritime systems and mine warfare technologies. Exail contributes decades of proven operational expertise, while L&T leverages its strengths in defence engineering, indigenous manufacturing, complex system integration and lifecycle support.”
Jérôme Bendell, Director of Exail’s Maritime Systems business line, said: “Beyond delivering a proven unmanned mine countermeasures capability, this collaboration also reflects a shared ambition to support the long-term development of sovereign unmanned maritime systems in India.”
He added that he sees “significant potential to contribute to the local development and production of next-generation naval drones and autonomous mission systems”.
Exail offers a range of such systems, including its SeaScan and K-Ster C ROVs, and A-9M and A-18M AUVs. No matter which shipbuilder wins the MCMV contract, Exail and L&T said they would offer their solution to them.
by Gordon Arthur
