Russia has developed a mine countermeasures drone that holds promise for the Indian Navy’s quest for drone-based mine countermeasures capability. The drone is intended to equip mine defense ships, such as the ones that Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) has been contracted to build for the Indian Navy (IN).
Yawning Operational Gap
The Indian Navy (IN), which once operated 12 Mine Countermeasures Vessels (MCMVs), has been without a single MCMV or minesweeper for over six years.
All Pondicherry-class and Karwar-class minesweepers were retired nearly six years ago. The last to serve, INS Kozhikode, a Pondicherry-class minesweeper built by the Soviet Union, was decommissioned on April 13, 2019.
Originally procured from the Soviet Union and later upgraded indigenously, these minesweepers were critical to the IN’s mine countermeasure capabilities. However, they were phased out due to aging, with no replacements in sight—victims of bureaucratic delays, failed negotiations, shifting procurement policies, and evolving technology.
Procurement Woes
The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) initiated procurement of replacement minesweepers in 2008 when it invited bids for the supply of 8 Mine CounterMeasures Vessels (MCMVs) from Kangnam Corp., South Korea; Intermarine, Italy; Northrop Grumman, USA; Izhar, Spain and DCN International, France.
As part of the procurement process, MOD shortlisted South Korea’s Kangnam Corporation and Italy’s Intermarine as they met all the technical requirements.
Kangam Corporation emerged winner with a more competitive price offer and concluded price negotiations with MoD by October 2011.
Under the terms of the contract, Kangnam Corporation was to build two MCMVs in South Korea and the remaining six, under license in India by Goa Shipyard Limited.
Kangnam Corporation was to deliver the first two MCMVs by 2016 for user trials and acceptance. GSL was to complete delivery of the remaining six license-produced ships by 2018.
In 2014, the MoD scrapped the procurement after Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi held that South Korean firm Kangnam Shipyard had hired agents to facilitate the deal.
The procurement was rebooted in March 2015 when the MoD nominated Goa Shipyard Ltd. (GSL) to build 12 MCMVs indigenously. The MoD also released an RFI initiating procurement of approximately 12 sets of Mine Counter Measure (MCM) Suites to be fitted onboard 12 MCM Vessels to be built by GSL.
Kangam Again
After bagging the deal, GSL decided to tie up with the foreign yards for the technology transfer required to create these high-tech ships. It floated a global expression of interest (EOI).
South Korea’s Kangnam Corporation was the sole bidder.
In 2017, during the contract negotiations that followed, Kangnam played truant on ToT. The company refused to provide a performance guarantee for the supervision of the construction of the vessels by GSL. By the end of the years, the negotiations collapsed, and the MoD was forced to begin a fresh global hunt for minesweepers.
On March 21, 2018, the MoD issued a fresh EoI to South Korea’s Kangnam Corporation, Italy’s Intermarine, Spain’s Navantia, Germany’s ThyssenKrupp, and Russian Shipyards.
The MoD reportedly received responses from Korea’s Kangnam Corporation, Italy’s Intermarine, and a Russian shipyard.
Revised Qualitative Requirements
With the procurement process dragging on for over a decade, the IN recognized the need to integrate advancements in mine countermeasures—such as drones and clip-on mine countermeasure suites for individual vessels—into updated Qualitative Requirements (QRs).
Russian Offer
During the 19th IRIGC-M&MTC at Moscow on November 6, 2019, Russia reportedly offered ToT for local manufacture at GSL of its Project 12701 Alexandrit-E ships. The offer was aligned with the IN’s interest in the use of drones.
The Project 12701 Minesweepers are designed to deal with modern sea mines, which can be planted both in the water of seawater areas and in sea soil. In this case, the ship may not enter the danger zone – the search, identification, and destruction of dangerous objects is carried out remotely using remote-controlled underwater vehicles and a crewless boat.
The ships have a unique, largest-in-the-world hull of monolithic fiberglass formed by vacuum infusion. The mass of such a case is less than metal, while its strength is significantly increased. Such a case is not susceptible to corrosion, and the service life, subject to operating standards, is practically unlimited.
Fresh RFI
In August 2023, the Indian Navy released a fresh RFI for the procurement of 12 vessels with both anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and mine countermeasures (MCM) capabilities.
The Mines Counter-Measure (MCM) suite should include state-of-the-art technologies like underwater drones and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs).
For ASW, the vessels will feature advanced hull-mounted and towed array sonars to detect and track underwater threats, such as submarines and mines.
The 12 MCMVs are to be constructed over an eight-year period. The order will be split between the lowest and second-lowest bidding shipyards. The proposed delivery timeline for the MCMVs ranges from 2030 to 2037.
Russia’s Underwater Drone For Demining
Izvestia recently reported that Russia has developed an underwater drone capable of detecting mines and explosives at depths of several hundred meters, including under a layer of silt.
The drone, which is capable of moving at high speeds, can protect ships, clear ports and shipping routes of mines, and guard gas pipelines or underwater communication cables.
The drone can operate in Sea States up to 3 and at great distance from the carrier ship. It is equipped with several video cameras with a wide viewing angle and high resolution, powerful lights, and a control unit.
The drone’s software eliminates motion blur in the real time video feed even when the drone is moving at high speeds, facilitating quick survey of large areas. The drone can clear a much larger area of mines, as compared to MCM ships or helicopters.
One of the installed cameras assists in the capture or on-the-spot destruction of a mine.
Operating covertly at a distance from its mother ship, the drone can support landing operations near enemy-mined shores.
Conclusion
The gap in the Indian Navy’s mine countermeasures capability must be addressed urgently. Even if the MoD finalized its options today, it would likely take another five years to bridge. The longer this gap remains, the greater the risk of adversaries exploiting it.
- Vijainder K Thakur is a retired IAF Jaguar pilot, author, software architect, entrepreneur, and military analyst.
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