Page 13 - ADT MAY-JUNE 2022 Online Magazine

ments. The navy requires 3-4 MCMVs to be
urgently acquired. The delivery of the first mine-
sweeper is to take place within 10 months of
contract signature. The remaining MCMVs are
to be delivered every four months henceforth.
A lease period of 10 years has been asked for.
This will be extendable to 15 years along with
an option to purchase the minesweepers at the [ MARITIME SYSTEMS ]
end of the lease period.

The RFI calls for the MCMVs to be fitted with
equipment capable of mine detection and
mine classification using hull mounted sonar
and side scan Sonars (SSS), unmanned under-
water vehicles (UUVs) such as autonomous
underwater vehicles (AUV)/propelled variable
depth sonar (PVDS) and mine identification &
disposal vehicles. The RFI also asks for the
MCMVs to be fitted with a lightweight 20/30
mm anti-surface naval gun and a Very Short
Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS). It
also needs to have two 12.7 mm machine guns.

Arduous Search
The navy’s fleet of six Russian origin MCMVs
are now over 30 years old and had were orig-
inally slated for decommissioning in 2016. The
Indian MoD first started the process of acqui-
sition of eight MCMVs through indigenous
construction in 2005. This was later revised
to the acquisition of two from a foreign ship-
yard and six from an Indian shipyard. However,
due to non-compliance of request for proposal
Underwater Hunt acquisition process was dropped in 2014, bring-
(RFP) conditions by the foreign shipyard, the
ing to naught, nearly a decade of effort.

The MoD subsequently nominated Goa
MODERN MINE COUNTERMEASURE VESSELS Shipyard in 2015 to construct MCMVs under
Transfer of Technology (ToT) from a foreign
CONTINUE TO ELUDE THE INDIAN NAVY shipyard. However due to inadequate response
and non-compliance to ToT requirement, Goa
Special Correspondent Shipyard Limited cancelled the process in
2018. By this time the navy requirement had
increased to 12 MCMVs.
The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) is looking to lease Mine A contract for procurement of eight combined
Counter Measure Vessels (MCMV) to meet a long pending require- influence sweep (CIS) systems for mine sweep-
ment of the Indian Navy. MCMVs are capable of locating, classifying ing was concluded in 2019. Thales Australia was
and neutralizing all types of ground and moored mines. They can to have delivered these systems between 2021-
also undertake mine laying, channel conditioning, route survey, san- 2022. These clip on sweeps do not require an
itization, etc. The Indian MoD identified two procurement options external power source. Each CIS comprises
in its request for information (RFI) issued late last year. of a magnetic, acoustic and electric multi-in-
fluence sweep, mine jammer for time limited
Option 1 calls for the procurement of in service/ decommissioned missions, sweep tracker monitor system, mis-
MCMVs which can be retrofitted to Indian Navy requirements, sion planning support system software and an
while Option 2 calls for lease of in service/ decommissioned ECDIS based minesweeping navigation and
MCMVs, which would then be retrofitted to Indian Navy require- control system.

ASIAN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY May/June 2022 | 13