India To Sign Minesweepers Technology Transfer Contracts Soon

India is likely to sign contracts for transfer of technology (ToT) about Mine Countermeasures Vessels (MCMV) or minesweepers soon, a senior official said Wednesday.

“Contracts for transfer of technology about the Mine Countermeasures Vessels (MCMV) or minesweepers should be signed soon,” Vice Admiral (Controller Warship Production and Acquisition) G S Pabby told reporters Wednesday.

"It is moving very well. We are monitoring it very closely because we badly need these ships. We have finalised almost all issues related to transfer of technology from the foreign collaborators and that contract should be signed very soon," he said.

Indian Goa Shipyard (GSL) has sought international companies for technology transfer. GSL won the $5 billion contract in 2014 and floated an expression of interest (EOI) from companies willing to transfer technology.

South Korean Kangnam, Italy’s Intermarine, Spain’s Navantia, US Lockheed Martin, German Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems and two other shipyards from Russia were sent the EOI. 20 percent of the total value of the contract will be the value of the ToT contract.

India earlier this month suspended talks on the licensed production of the Alexandrit class minesweeper as the country is waiting to obtain the results of the operational evaluation of the first same-type ship in Russia.

"Talks with India on the organization of the licensed production of Alexandrit-class mine sweepers are not under way. The Indian customers are currently waiting for the information on the Project 12700 lead mine sweeper Alexander Obukhov and its operational evaluation," CEO of Russia’s Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard Vladimir Seredokho told TASS.

When asked about the Landing Platform Docks (LDP) for the Indian Navy, the Vice Admiral said the technical evaluation has been carried out for the project and there are some issues about capacity assessment, which is also in final stages.