New Delhi, Jan 25 (KNN) – Strengthening coastal security, the Indian Defence Ministry finalized a significant Rs 1,070-crore contract with Mumbai-based Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) on Wednesday.
Boosting coastal security! #MoD seals the deal with @MazagonDockLtd for acquisition of 14 Fast Patrol Vessels for the @IndiaCoastGuard.
— A. Bharat Bhushan Babu (@SpokespersonMoD) January 24, 2024
Strengthening maritime capabilities for a safer India. 🚢🇮🇳 #CoastalSecurity
More: https://t.co/kecIDBwYIc@giridhararamane pic.twitter.com/6VLmScj680
Important Details:
- Deal Amount: Rs 1,070 Crore
- Parties Involved: Indian Defence Ministry, MDL
- Vessels Procured: 14 Fast Patrol Vessels
- Delivery Timeframe: Within 5 years
- Key Features:
- Indigenously designed, equipped with high-tech features
- Multipurpose drones
- AI capabilities
- Remote water rescue craft
The contract, part of the government’s commitment to self-reliance in defence, focuses on acquiring 14 Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs), designed and manufactured within India. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) is set to deliver these cutting-edge vessels over the next five years.
These Fast Patrol Vessels are anticipated to play a pivotal role in a variety of maritime operations, including fisheries protection, monitoring, control and surveillance, anti-smuggling efforts, search and rescue missions, assistance to distressed ships, marine pollution response, and anti-piracy operations.
Equipped with multipurpose drones, wirelessly controlled remote water rescue craft, and artificial intelligence capabilities, these vessels provide the Indian Coast Guard with enhanced flexibility and operational advantages, addressing modern multidimensional challenges.
Aligned with the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-reliant India) initiative, this contract is expected to boost the nation’s indigenous shipbuilding capability, fostering employment opportunities and expertise development.
This development follows the Defence Ministry’s import ban on 98 weapons and systems in April 2023, reinforcing the government’s dedication to achieving self-sufficiency in defence manufacturing. As part of a broader strategy, 509 defence items were placed under an import ban in the last three years, according to the fifth positive indigenisation list released by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in April.
In May 2023, India reported that the value of defence production had surpassed Rs 1 lakh crore for the first time, underscoring the success of key reforms aimed at reducing dependence on military imports and transforming the nation into an exporter of weapons and systems.
This recent deal with MDL stands as a testament to India’s progress in the defence sector, marking a step forward in bolstering indigenous capabilities and ensuring a more self-reliant future in defence production.
