Overview

• The girder laying and erection ceremony took place on July 30 at Chowgule & Company’s Goa shipyard, marking the start of construction on the first indigenously built Air Cushion Vehicle for the Indian Coast Guard.
• Six hovercraft based on licensed Griffon Hoverwork designs will be customised with Indian expertise to support varied coastal security operations.
• The Defence Ministry says the ACVs will offer enhanced speed, tactical flexibility and shallow-water operability for patrolling, interdiction and search and rescue missions.
• The project follows an October 2024 contract and underscores the Coast Guard’s drive for operational self-reliance under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
• India’s defence production reached a record ₹1.46 lakh crore with exports of ₹24,000 crore in 2024-25 as private sector participation expands under new models such as the AMCA programme.