India Revives ₹44,000 Cr Minesweeper Project: Plans to Build 12 Next-Gen Mine Countermeasure Vessels

India has reactivated its long-stalled ₹44,000 crore project to domestically build 12 state-of-the-art Mine Countermeasure Vessels (MCMVs), a critical capability gap that the Indian Navy has been grappling with for over a decade. With fresh momentum, the initiative signals a significant push towards strengthening coastal and naval security, particularly in the face of growing maritime threats and an increasingly complex underwater mine warfare landscape.

The Legacy Gap in Naval Mine Countermeasures

Naval mines, often termed the "weapons that wait," pose one of the most silent yet devastating threats to maritime operations. Despite this, the Indian Navy has lacked a dedicated minesweeper fleet since 2016, when the last of its 12 Soviet-origin Pondicherry-class MCMVs were decommissioned. Since then, the Navy has been without a dedicated capability to detect and neutralize sea mines—a vulnerability in a region of high maritime traffic and contested waters.

Several attempts to replace the aging fleet stalled over issues related to costs, technology transfer, and quality compliance. The most notable setback came in 2018, when the proposed ₹32,000 crore project with South Korea’s Kangnam Corporation—meant to be executed with Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL)—was scrapped over pricing and local content issues.

Revival Under New Guidelines

In 2025, the Ministry of Defence has finally rebooted the project under the "Make in India" initiative, with an expanded budget of ₹44,000 crore. Goa Shipyard Limited will remain the primary shipbuilder, but this time the project will likely involve newer, global partnerships under updated procurement models like the Strategic Partnership (SP) model or Buy and Make (Indian).

Officials have hinted that negotiations are already underway with leading global MCMV manufacturers such as Italy’s Intermarine, Sweden’s Saab, and France’s Naval Group, among others.

Advanced MCMV Capabilities in Focus

The upcoming Indian MCMVs are expected to incorporate the latest in mine countermeasure technologies, with capabilities far beyond traditional minesweeping:

1. Non-Magnetic Hull Construction

To prevent triggering magnetic mines, the MCMVs will be constructed using non-magnetic materials, most likely glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) or advanced carbon fiber composites. GRP hulls also offer better shock resistance and longevity in mine-laden waters.

2. Hull-Mounted and Towed Sonar

These vessels will be equipped with state-of-the-art High-Frequency Hull-Mounted Sonars (HF-HMS) and Variable Depth Sonars (VDS) to detect both moored and bottom mines in different seabed environments.

3. Unmanned Mine Disposal Systems

Each MCMV will likely carry a suite of autonomous and remotely operated vehicles, including:

• ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles) with robotic arms to neutralize mines using shaped charges.

• AUVs (Autonomous Underwater Vehicles) to conduct mine-hunting missions independently using AI-driven algorithms.

4. Advanced Navigation and C2 Systems

Given the precision required in mine warfare, the MCMVs will come with integrated combat management systems (CMS), dynamic positioning systems, and high-resolution navigation radars with GPS/INS overlays for exact station-keeping and mission execution.

5. Self-Defense Systems

While not heavily armed, these ships are expected to carry short-range naval guns and close-in weapon systems (CIWS) for basic self-defense against asymmetric threats like drones or fast attack craft.

Strategic Implications

The revival of the MCMV program comes at a time when India is increasing its naval footprint across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). With adversaries potentially deploying advanced influence mines and seabed sensors, especially in choke points like the Strait of Hormuz or the Malacca Strait, the need for mine warfare capability is no longer optional—it is a strategic imperative.

Moreover, this initiative also boosts the domestic shipbuilding ecosystem, enabling technology absorption and skill development within Indian yards. Goa Shipyard is already undergoing infrastructure upgrades to handle composite hull fabrication, something previously unprecedented at this scale in India.

Timelines and Future Outlook

The delivery timeline is expected to span a decade, with the first vessel anticipated by 2028 if contracts are finalized in 2025. All 12 ships are to be built indigenously, although the first few may see critical foreign components or design modules imported and integrated locally.

If executed on time, the project will not only close a glaring capability gap for the Indian Navy but also position India as a potential exporter of MCMVs to friendly foreign navies in Southeast Asia and Africa—many of which face similar maritime mine threats but lack indigenous production capabilities.

Conclusion

With the revival of this ₹44,000 crore MCMV project, India is finally taking decisive action to restore a vital arm of its naval warfare capability. The integration of modern sonar, robotics, and unmanned systems marks a major leap in how India prepares to secure its harbors, shipping lanes, and forward naval deployments in an era of increasingly complex maritime threats.

This isn’t just a procurement program—it’s a strategic pivot that could redefine India’s underwater dominance in the Indian Ocean for decades to come.