The construction of the first-ever indigenously fabricated Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs) for the Indian Coast Guard is progressing swiftly at Chowgule & Company Private Limited in Goa. A contract was signed by the Ministry of Defence with the company on October 24, 2024, for the construction of six ACVs for the Coast Guard as part of India’s focus on indigenous defense manufacturing. A significant milestone was marked with the girder laying ceremony for the fourth, fifth, and sixth ACVs at the Rassaim Yard of Chowgule Shipyard in Goa on May 11.
The ceremony was graced by Deputy Inspector General Vinod Sakharkar, serving as Chief Staff Officer (Technical) at the Coast Guard Regional Headquarters. The first Air Cushion Vehicle under the project is anticipated to be delivered soon. The Coast Guard hailed the project as a notable achievement under the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative, emphasizing the importance of boosting indigenous manufacturing and defense capabilities.
The newly-built Air Cushion Vehicles are expected to bolster India’s coastal security framework by enhancing the Coast Guard’s strategic mobility and operational flexibility across various maritime terrains. These ACVs, designed for multiple operational roles, will contribute to high-speed coastal patrolling, maritime reconnaissance, interception, and interdiction missions, including search and rescue operations. Based on designs from Griffon Hoverwork in the UK, the ACVs are being constructed locally at the Rassaim Yard of Chowgule Shipyard in Goa, with nearly 50% indigenous content.
