Indian Navy Lacks Mine Countermeasure Vessels Amid Rising Maritime Threats
The Indian Navy currently has no dedicated Mine Countermeasure Vessels (MCMVs), a critical gap in its capability as naval mines pose a significant threat to maritime operations. The last MCMV was decommissioned in April 2019, and repeated procurement efforts since the early 2000s have failed due to bureaucratic challenges. The Ministry of Defence has recently approved the procurement of 12 indigenous MCMVs, but the process remains lengthy and uncertain.
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The Indian Navy (IN) lacks dedicated Mine Countermeasure Vessels (MCMVs), crucial for detecting and neutralizing naval mines that threaten vital sea lanes, especially as tensions rise in the Persian Gulf. Since the retirement of its last MCMV in April 2019, the IN has been without this capability, exposing it to strategic vulnerabilities.
Efforts to procure new MCMVs have been hindered by procurement delays and mismanagement. In July 2025, the Ministry of Defence approved the procurement of 12 indigenous MCMVs, estimated at Rs 44,000 crore, but the lengthy acquisition process may delay operational readiness. Current reliance on improvised measures and temporary solutions does not match the effectiveness of dedicated MCMVs.
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