GSL Mine Counter-Measure Vessels

GSL-class mine countermeasure vessels are series of twelve multi-purpose mine countermeasure vessels for the Indian Navy proposed to be jointly built by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) with a foreign partner to transfer technology of equipment for anti-mine operations.

In May 2004, the Indian Ministry of Defence (MOD) approved a Mine Counter-Measures Vessel (MCMV) programme. The plan was to initially procure 8 MCMVs to replace the 12 existing Soviet-origin Pondicherry-class minesweeper that had been in service for the last 25 to 30 years. The ships were proposed to be built by the Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL).

The ship were to feature :–

1. High-resolution sonar for mine detection
2. Remote-controlled mine disposal systems to neutralise the mines
3. Lightweight reinforced composite hull to reduce their acoustic and magnetic signatures and better resist underwater explosions
4. Lifespan: 30 years
5. Maximum speed: 30 knots
6. Endurance: 10 days

As per the plans, a Request for Tender (RFT) was sent to Italy's Intermarine, South Korea's Kangnam Corp. and Spain's IZAR (now Nacantia) for construction and/or technology assistance for the MCMVs. Subsequently, a Request for Proposal (RFP) for mine detection and netralising equipment was sent to France's Thales and ECA, Germany's Atlas Elektronik and Spain's FABA.

In 2008, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) invited bids for 8 MCMVs from France's DCN International (now Naval Group), Italy's Fincantieri, Spain's IZAR, South Korea's Kangnam Corp. and Northrop Grumman of the US.

Kangnam emerged as the winning bidder and concluded price negotiation with MoD in October 2011. As per the deal, the first two MCMVs would be directly delivered by the foreign shipyard at the cost of ₹2,700 crore (equivalent to ₹56 billion or US$640 million in 2023) by 2016 for user acceptance trials. The rest of six ships would be built by GSL at the cost of ₹6,000 crore (equivalent to ₹120 billion or US$1.4 billion in 2023) and delivered by 2018. However, in November 2011, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi held the firm guilty of employing defence agents to seal the deal. Subsequently, the entire procurement process was scrapped.

In February 2015, due to the urgent rerequirement of the ships, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) nominated GSL for the construction of 12 MCMVs at a cost of ₹32,000 crore (equivalent to ₹430 billion or US$4.9 billion in 2023). In September 2015, GSL floated a global expression of interest (EOI) from companies willing to transfer technology to build the vessels. On 11 January 2016, Kangnam Corporation responded and was the sole respondent to the EOI, leading to a single vendor situation. By then, the Pondicherry-class minesweeper were set to be devommissioned by 2018. As of April 2017, the deal was expected to be signed by the end of the year. However, the deal did not go through as reported in January 2018. Kangnam did not since "differences persisted over the transfer of technology and cost". The South Korean firm demanded $1 billion as technology transfer fee and "refused to provide intellectual property rights and production support guarantees" which the Defence Ministry did not accept. The negotiations had started in 2016. As per the orginal timeline, the construction of the first vessel was expected to begin in April 2018 with deliveries to be completed between April 2021 and April 2026. However, this was pushed back as the contract was cancelled again.

On 21 March 2018, another EOI was floated for the same reason to South Korea's Kangnam Corporation, Italy's Intermarine, Spain's Navantia, Germany's ThyssenKrupp, and Russian Shipyards. Responses was received from a Russian shipyard and Intermarine. Meanwhile, the Navy also updated the qualitative requirements so that the MCMVs fit into the modern technologies after the delays of its induction The Russian offer was a variant of its Alexandrit-class minesweepers which had integrated drones for anti-mine operations.

In August 2023, released a fresh Request for Information (RFI) for 12 vessels to integrate the capabilites of anti-submarine warfare and mine countermeasures vessels whic can operate Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and underwater drones. The vessels would also feature advanced hull-mounted and towed array sonars for submarine and mine detenction. The order would be split between the lowest and second-lowest bidding shipyards in 8:4 ratio and would be delivered between 2030 and 2037.

Source:

• Displacement:2,800 tons
• Length: 87 m
• Beam: 15 m
• Draft: 4.1 m
• Propulsion: CODOE configuration 2 × diesel engines and 2 × electric motors, 2 shafts, 3,728 kW (5,000 hp)
• Maximum speed: 20 knots
• Range: 4,000 nmi (7,400 km) at 10 knots; 3,000 nmi (5,600 km) at 12 knots
• Complement: 75
• Sensors and processing systems: BEL Sonar and BEL Radar
• Electronic warfare: BEL minesweeper equipment
• Armament: 4 × 30 mm (2×2) guns
• 4 × 30 mm (2×2) AA
• 4 × 25 mm (2×2) AA

As of 2011 RFPs for mine-hunting gear had been sent to Thales of the Netherlands, Atlas Elektronik of Germany, Fábrica de Artillería Bazán FABA of Spain and ECA SA of France. Indian public sector firm Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) was expected to supply the fire control radar for the vessel. BEL entered a joint venture with OTO Melara of Italy to supply 30 mm guns.^{[citation needed]}

• Lerici-class minehunter

• "Indian Navy to Get South Korean Minesweepers in its Fleet". Defencenow.com. 18 April 2011. Archived from the original on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2012.