The Ministry of Defence today signed a contract for the procurement of six Air Cushion Vehicles for the Indian Coast Guard at a total cost of 387.44 crore rupees. The ministry said, these amphibious vessels, also called ‘hovercrafts,’ will be procured under the Buy Indian category.

These ACVs will be indigenously manufactured in India for the first time in line with the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ vision of the government, representing a pivotal step in the nation’s shipping landscape. The project will also significantly enhance the technical expertise and growth of indigenous ancillary industries, especially the MSME sector. The procurement of these platforms aims to boost the Indian Coast Guard’s capabilities and reinforces the increased focus on maritime security.