As part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat plan, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has begun building its first Air Cushion Vehicle (ACV) that is entirely domestically produced. This is a major step forward for India’s maritime defense capabilities and independence.
On July 30, 2025, the Girder Laying and Commencement of Erection ceremony was held at the Chowgule & Company Pvt Ltd shipyard in Goa. This historic event marked the start of a new era in the production of indigenous hovercraft for coastal security operations.
These hovercraft are being built with Indian experience and technology adaptation to address the unique requirements of India’s varied and complicated coastal regions. They are based on tried-and-true designs from the UK-based Griffon Hoverwork.
A contract with the Ministry of Defense was signed on October 24, 2024, and six ACVs are now being manufactured. With an estimated cost of ₹387.44 crore, the project is a significant step towards modernizing India’s coastal defense infrastructure and achieving operational independence.
After being deployed, these ACVs will give the ICG increased speed, tactical adaptability, and the capacity to function well in shallow waters—all of which are essential for prompt maritime response in search and rescue, patrol, and interdiction operations throughout India’s vast 7,500-kilometer coastline.
The ICG’s operational reach and responsiveness are increased by its amphibious ability to move quickly on land and at sea, giving them access to coastal marshes, creeks, and other terrain that is inaccessible to conventional warships.
Inspector General Sudhir Sahni, the ICG’s Deputy Director General (Materiel & Maintenance), presided over the ceremony among other government leaders and senior Chowgule officials. The project is being done in Chowgule’s state-of-the-art aluminum fabrication plant, demonstrating the private shipbuilding industry’s dedication to technological advancement and precise manufacture.
This program supports India’s larger Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives, which are meant to increase local defense manufacturing, decrease reliance on foreign suppliers, and promote indigenous defense industry.
The hovercraft project also complements recent defence sector growth, where India’s defence production hit an all-time high of ₹1.46 lakh crore, and exports reached ₹24,000 crore during 2024-25, showcasing significant strides in self-reliance.
The indigenous ACV construction project at the Chowgule shipyard marks a critical milestone, enhancing India’s maritime security apparatus by introducing high-speed, versatile hovercraft designed and built domestically to meet strategic coastal operational demands, thus strengthening India’s maritime sovereignty and rapid response capabilities.
