Future Mine Counter Measure Vessels (India)

==Background==

==History==

=== 1st attempt ===

=== Previous attempts ===

==== 1st attempt ====

In May 2004, the Indian [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defence]] (MOD) approved a Mine Counter-Measures Vessel (MCMV) programme. The plan was to initially procure 8 MCMVs to replace the 12 existing Soviet-origin [[Pondicherry-class minesweeper]] that had been in service for the last 25 to 30 years. The ships were proposed to be built by the [[Goa Shipyard Limited]] (GSL).<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Mine Countermeasure Vehicles in the Navy |url=https://www.spsnavalforces.com/story/?id=449 |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=www.spsnavalforces.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Mine Counter-Measures Vessel (MCMV) |url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/m-mcm.htm |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=www.globalsecurity.org}}</ref>

In May 2004, the Indian [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defence]] (MOD) approved a Mine Counter-Measures Vessel (MCMV) programme. The plan was to initially procure 8 MCMVs to replace the 12 existing Soviet-origin [[Pondicherry-class minesweeper]] that had been in service for the last 25 to 30 years. The ships were proposed to be built by the [[Goa Shipyard Limited]] (GSL).<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Mine Countermeasure Vehicles in the Navy |url=https://www.spsnavalforces.com/story/?id=449 |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=www.spsnavalforces.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Mine Counter-Measures Vessel (MCMV) |url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/m-mcm.htm |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=www.globalsecurity.org}}</ref>

Kangnam emerged as the winning bidder and concluded price negotiation with MoD in October 2011. As per the deal, the first two MCMVs would be directly delivered by the foreign shipyard at the cost of {{INRConvert|2700|c|lk=on|year=2011}} by 2016 for user acceptance trials. The rest of six ships would be built by GSL at the cost of {{INRConvert|6000|c|lk=|year=2011}} and delivered by 2018. However, in November 2011, [[Attorney General of India|Attorney General]] [[Mukul Rohatgi]] held the firm guilty of employing defence agents to seal the deal. Subsequently, the entire procurement process was scrapped.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" />

Kangnam emerged as the winning bidder and concluded price negotiation with MoD in October 2011. As per the deal, the first two MCMVs would be directly delivered by the foreign shipyard at the cost of {{INRConvert|2700|c|lk=on|year=2011}} by 2016 for user acceptance trials. The rest of six ships would be built by GSL at the cost of {{INRConvert|6000|c|lk=|year=2011}} and delivered by 2018. However, in November 2011, [[Attorney General of India|Attorney General]] [[Mukul Rohatgi]] held the firm guilty of employing defence agents to seal the deal. Subsequently, the entire procurement process was scrapped.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" />

=== 2nd attempt ===

==== 2nd attempt ====

In February 2015, due to the urgent rerequirement of the ships, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) nominated GSL for the construction of 12 MCMVs at a cost of {{INRConvert|32640|c|lk=|year=2018}}. In September 2015, GSL floated a global [[expression of interest]] (EOI) from companies willing to [[transfer technology]] to build the vessels.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/naval/ships/2015/09/26/india-seeks-global-tranfer-technology-build-mcmv/72730048/|title = India Seeks Global Transfer of Technology To Build MCMV|website = Defense News|access-date = 2016-04-02}}</ref> On 11 January 2016, Kangnam Corporation responded and was the sole respondent to the EOI, leading to a single vendor situation. By then, the [[Pondicherry-class minesweeper]] were set to be decommissioned by 2018. As of April 2017, the deal was expected to be signed by the end of the year. However, the deal did not go through as reported in January 2018. Kangnam did not since "differences persisted over the transfer of technology and cost". The South Korean firm demanded $1 billion as technology transfer fee and "refused to provide intellectual property rights and production support guarantees" which the Defence Ministry did not accept. The negotiations had started in 2016. As per the original timeline, the construction of the first vessel was expected to begin in April 2018 with deliveries to be completed between April 2021 and April 2026. However, this was pushed back as the contract was cancelled again.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url = https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/defence-ministry-to-float-tender-for-12-minesweepers/story-GkTVj4RrTMRkyunKYp4n1H.html/|title = Defence ministry to float tender for 12 minesweepers|website = Hindustan Times |access-date = 2020-12-29}}</ref>

In February 2015, due to the urgent rerequirement of the ships, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) nominated GSL for the construction of 12 MCMVs at a cost of {{INRConvert|32640|c|lk=|year=2018}}. In September 2015, GSL floated a global [[expression of interest]] (EOI) from companies willing to [[transfer technology]] to build the vessels.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/naval/ships/2015/09/26/india-seeks-global-tranfer-technology-build-mcmv/72730048/|title = India Seeks Global Transfer of Technology To Build MCMV|website = Defense News|access-date = 2016-04-02}}</ref> On 11 January 2016, Kangnam Corporation responded and was the sole respondent to the EOI, leading to a single vendor situation. By then, the [[Pondicherry-class minesweeper]] were set to be decommissioned by 2018. As of April 2017, the deal was expected to be signed by the end of the year. However, the deal did not go through as reported in January 2018. Kangnam did not since "differences persisted over the transfer of technology and cost". The South Korean firm demanded $1 billion as technology transfer fee and "refused to provide intellectual property rights and production support guarantees" which the Defence Ministry did not accept. The negotiations had started in 2016. As per the original timeline, the construction of the first vessel was expected to begin in April 2018 with deliveries to be completed between April 2021 and April 2026. However, this was pushed back as the contract was cancelled again.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url = https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/defence-ministry-to-float-tender-for-12-minesweepers/story-GkTVj4RrTMRkyunKYp4n1H.html/|title = Defence ministry to float tender for 12 minesweepers|website = Hindustan Times |access-date = 2020-12-29}}</ref>

=== 3rd attempt ===

==== 3rd attempt ====

On 21 March 2018, another EOI was floated for the same reason to South Korea's Kangnam Corporation, Italy's Intermarine, Spain's [[Navantia]], Germany's [[ThyssenKrupp]], and Russian Shipyards. Responses was received from a Russian shipyard and Intermarine. Meanwhile, the Navy also updated the qualitative requirements so that the MCMVs fit into the modern technologies after the delays of its induction The Russian offer was a variant of its [[Alexandrit-class minesweeper]]s which had integrated drones for anti-mine operations.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" />

On 21 March 2018, another EOI was floated for the same reason to South Korea's Kangnam Corporation, Italy's Intermarine, Spain's [[Navantia]], Germany's [[ThyssenKrupp]], and Russian Shipyards. Responses was received from a Russian shipyard and Intermarine. Meanwhile, the Navy also updated the qualitative requirements so that the MCMVs fit into the modern technologies after the delays of its induction The Russian offer was a variant of its [[Alexandrit-class minesweeper]]s which had integrated drones for anti-mine operations.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" />

In August 2021, due to the delays in the procurement, a [[request for information]] was released to lease four in-service/decommissioned mine countermeasure vessels. The first vessel is to be inducted within 10 months of contract signing with the others following within 4 months each.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Manaranche |first=Martin |date=2021-08-30 |title=India Issues RFI for Four Used Mine Countermeasure Vessels |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/08/india-issues-rfi-for-four-used-mine-countermeasure-vessels/ |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=Naval News |language=en-US}}</ref>

In August 2021, due to the delays in the procurement, a [[request for information]] was released to lease four in-service/decommissioned mine countermeasure vessels. The first vessel is to be inducted within 10 months of contract signing with the others following within 4 months each.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Manaranche |first=Martin |date=2021-08-30 |title=India Issues RFI for Four Used Mine Countermeasure Vessels |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/08/india-issues-rfi-for-four-used-mine-countermeasure-vessels/ |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=Naval News |language=en-US}}</ref>

Until the MCMVs are delivered, [[Samarthak-class Multi Purpose Vessel]] would partially fulfil the Navy's requirement.<ref>{{Cite web |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2023-03-21 |title=Indian Navy lays the keel of two multi-purpose vessels |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/03/indian-navy-lays-the-keel-of-two-multi-purpose-vessels/ |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=Naval News |language=en-US}}</ref>

Until the MCMVs are delivered, the upcoming [[Samarthak-class Multi Purpose Vessel]] are planned to partially fulfil the Navy's requirement.<ref>{{Cite web |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2023-03-21 |title=Indian Navy lays the keel of two multi-purpose vessels |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/03/indian-navy-lays-the-keel-of-two-multi-purpose-vessels/ |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=Naval News |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Current status ===

=== Current status ===