As the Indian Navy looks to strengthen its ability to secure critical sea lanes and counter underwater threats along its 7,516-km coastline, a major capability boost may be on its way in the form of advanced unmanned mine warfare systems.
In a move that could significantly enhance the Navy’s ability to detect and neutralise naval mines without exposing warships and those who man them to direct danger, Larsen & Toubro has entered into a strategic partnership with France-based Exail to deliver advanced Unmanned Mine Counter-Measure (MCM) Suite to the Indian Navy.
The system will integrate autonomous and remotely operated platforms capable of detecting, classifying, identifying, and neutralising naval mines from a safe stand-off distance. This capability is an increasingly critical requirement in modern naval warfare.
As the prime contractor, L&T will offer the unmanned MCM suite to shipyards participating in the Indian Navy’s proposed programme for 12 Mine Counter Measure Vessels, while Exail will serve as the technology partner, bringing in globally proven mine warfare solutions already operational with several navies.
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"The partnership will enable the delivery of Exail’s globally proven MCM technologies, already in operation with several navies worldwide and validated through extensive real-world deployments," a statement from L&T read.
For the Indian Navy, the partnership is expected to significantly improve mine countermeasure capabilities, strengthen maritime domain security, and reduce operational risks in contested waters.
The collaboration also deepens Indo-French defence ties while supporting India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India push.
Speaking about the development, Arun Ramchandani, Senior VP & Head -Precision Engineering & Systems, L&T, said the partnership brings together Larsen & Toubro’s extensive defence manufacturing legacy and maritime capabilities with Exail’s global expertise in unmanned maritime systems and mine warfare technologies.
He said Exail brings decades of proven operational experience, while L&T contributes its strengths in defence engineering, indigenous manufacturing, complex systems integration and lifecycle support.
The collaboration also reflects a shared ambition to support the long-term development of sovereign unmanned maritime systems in India, said Jerome Bendell, CEO, Maritime Systems Business Line, Exail.
INS Kozhikode, India’s final Soviet-origin Natya-class minesweeper, was decommissioned in 2019, leaving the Indian Navy without a dedicated mine countermeasure vessel to fill the gap.
The defence ministry had issued a Request for Information (RFI) in 2023 for the acquisition of 12 Mine Counter Measure Vessels for the Navy. In July 2025, the Defence Acquisition Council had cleared the MCMV programme valued at around ₹45,000 crore). However, the next step in the project is still to be achieved.
