Indian shipbuilder Chowgule has begun construction of its first domestically constructed Air Cushion Vehicle for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) at its Rassaim shipyard in Goa.
The C-326 hovercraft, based on a Griffon Marine design and built under licence, will be the first of six air cushion vehicles being built for the ICG under a deal struck with the Indian Ministry of Defence in October 2024.
As per an Indian MoD press statement: “Once inducted, the ACVs will provide enhanced speed, tactical flexibility, and shallow-water operability, enabling swift response for patrolling, interdiction, and search and rescue missions across India’s vast maritime frontier.”
The steel-cutting ceremony marking the start of construction was held at the end of last month and was attended by the ICG’s Deputy Director General (Materiel & Maintenance) Inspector General Sudhir Sahni.
The drive to produce the vessels domestically is part of the Indian Government’s wider “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” self-reliance initiative.
- You can read more details on the Indian MoD website and the Indian Coast Guard website