The Defence Ministry inked a contract with Larson & Toubro (L&T) Limited for the procurement of two multi-purpose vessels (MPV) for the Navy on Friday at Rs. 887,000 crore.
“The MPVs will be the first of their kind platform,” the Navy said in a statement. “They will be built to give a cost-effective solution to suit a variety of requirements.” The delivery of vessels is expected to begin in May 2025.
“These vessels, which will be built at the L&T shipyard in Kattupally (Chennai), will perform multi-role support functions such as maritime surveillance and patrol, torpedo launching and recovery, and operation of various types of aerial, surface, and underwater targets for gunnery, Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) firing exercises,” the Navy said.
With minimal medical ship capability, they would be able to tow ships and provide Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) support. They will also serve as a test bed for naval weaponry and sensors in development, a support platform for ISV and salvage operations, and a logistics support platform for our island territories, according to the announcement.
The Navy noted that because the majority of the equipment and systems are made in India, these ships would encourage active engagement in the Indian shipbuilding sector, which is in line with the “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” policy.
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