MUMBAI — May 14, 2026 : Indian defence and engineering company Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has entered into a strategic collaboration with France-based maritime technology firm Exail to provide an advanced Unmanned Mine Counter-Measure (MCM) Suite for the Indian Navy’s upcoming Mine Counter Measure Vessel (MCMV) programme.
The partnership will support the Indian Navy’s planned procurement of 12 Mine Counter Measure Vessels intended to replace ageing minesweepers and strengthen the navy’s mine warfare capabilities. Under the arrangement, L&T will act as the prime contractor and offer the unmanned MCM suite to shipyards participating in the MCMV construction programme, while Exail will serve as the technology partner supplying its mine warfare and unmanned maritime systems currently deployed by several navies worldwide.
According to the companies, the unmanned suite will integrate autonomous and remotely operated systems capable of detecting, classifying, identifying and neutralising naval mines through stand-off operations. The systems are designed to reduce operational risks to crews and manned vessels during mine clearance missions.
The package is expected to include unmanned surface vessels (USVs), autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), forming a multi-layered mine countermeasure capability for the Indian Navy. The systems will operate alongside advanced sonar-equipped MCMVs being planned under the programme.
L&T will be responsible for assembly, integration, testing and lifecycle support of the systems in India as part of the collaboration. The partnership also includes localisation efforts aligned with the Government of India’s “Make in India” and “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives aimed at increasing indigenous defence manufacturing and domestic industrial participation in major military procurement programmes.
The Indian Navy’s MCMV programme received Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) approval from the Defence Acquisition Council in July 2025 with an estimated project value of approximately ₹44,000 crore. The vessels are expected to feature non-magnetic hulls and advanced mine-hunting sonars to improve survivability and operational effectiveness in contested maritime environments. Initial vessel deliveries are projected between 2030 and 2037.
India currently operates legacy minesweeping platforms and has an overall long-term requirement for up to 24 Mine Counter Measure Vessels to secure key coastal approaches, ports and strategic maritime routes. The induction of unmanned mine warfare systems is intended to address capability gaps while modernising the navy’s underwater threat response infrastructure.
Arun Ramchandani, Senior Vice President and Head of Precision Engineering & Systems at L&T, stated that the collaboration combines L&T’s defence engineering and maritime integration capabilities with Exail’s operational expertise in unmanned mine warfare technologies.
Jérôme Bendell, CEO of Exail’s Maritime Systems Business Line, said the partnership reflects a broader objective of supporting long-term sovereign unmanned maritime system development in India, including potential local production of next-generation naval drones and autonomous maritime platforms.
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