The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a contract with Larsen and Toubro (L & T) Limited to purchase two Multi-Purpose Vessels (MPVs) for the Indian Navy at a total cost of Rs.887 Crore under the “Buy-Indian” Category.
The MPVs will be the first of their kind, constructed to provide a cost-effective solution to meet a variety of requirements of the Indian Navy.
- The MPVs will undertake a variety of multi-role support activities, including 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 vessels will be built at L & T shipyard in Kattupally (Chennai), with deliveries starting in May 2025.
The contract was signed in the presence of Vice Admiral Satish Namdeo Ghormade, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff and Pankaj Agarwal, Additional Secretary & Director General (Acquisition) from the Department of Defence, MoD.
Significance:
i.With limited hospital ship capability, these MPVs will be capable of towing ships and providing Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) support.
ii.They will also act as trial platforms for naval weapons and sensors under development, as support platforms for Immediate Support Vessel (ISV) and salvage operations, and provide logistics support for our island territories.
iii. Under the “Make in India, Make for the World” initiatives of the Ministry of Defence, the majority of the equipment and systems are sourced from indigenous manufacturers.
About Larsen and Toubro (L & T) Limited:
L&T is an Indian multinational engaged in Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) projects, hi-tech manufacturing and services. It operates in over 50 countries worldwide.
MD & CEO – S. N. Subrahmanyan
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
