L&T partners France-based Exail for Indian Navy's unmanned Mine Counter Measure Suite
New Delhi, May 14
Larsen abd Toubro has entered a strategic collaboration with France-based Exail to deliver an advanced Unmanned Mine Counter-Measure Suite for the Indian Navy's Mine Counter Measure Vessels programme.
According to company information, L&T and Exail will together provide the Indian Navy with a state-of-the-art Unmanned MCM Suite, incorporating autonomous and remotely operated systems designed to detect, classify, identify and neutralise naval mines in a safe, stand-off manner.
L&T, as the prime contractor, will offer the Unmanned MCM Suite to all shipyards participating in Indian Navy's upcoming programme for 12 Mine Counter Measure Vessels. Exail will serve as the technology partner.
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. The collaboration represents a major step towards strengthening India's mine countermeasure capabilities, enhancing maritime security and reinforcing Indo-French defence cooperation, while building a robust and self-reliant naval defence manufacturing ecosystem in India.
Aligned with the Government of India's Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives, the programme will incorporate strong local industrial collaboration and capability development.
Commenting on the development, Arun Ramchandani, Senior VP & Head -Precision Engineering & Systems, L&T, said, "This partnership brings together L&T, with its extensive defence products legacy and maritime capabilities, and Exail, a global leader in unmanned maritime systems and mine warfare technologies. Exail contributes decades of proven operational expertise, while L&T leverages its strengths in defence engineering, indigenous manufacturing, complex system integration and lifecycle support".
Jerome Bendell, CEO - Maritime Systems Business Line, Exail, said, "We are proud to partner with L&T on this strategic programme for the Indian Navy. Beyond delivering a proven unmanned mine countermeasures capability, this collaboration also reflects a shared ambition to support the long-term development of sovereign unmanned maritime systems in India. By combining Exail's operational expertise with L&T's strong industrial and integration capabilities, we see significant potential to contribute to the local development and production of next-generation naval drones and autonomous mission systems".
— ANI
Reader Comments
Great step forward, but I hope the "Make in India" part isn't just lip service. There should be substantial tech transfer and local manufacturing, not just assembly of foreign components. Still, partnering with Exail which has proven technologies is smart - we need reliable systems quickly given the regional threats.
As someone who served in the Navy, I can say this is a very welcome development. Mine sweeping is one of the most dangerous naval operations. Unmanned systems will save many lives. Exail has excellent track record with French Navy and several others. L&T should ensure that Indian personnel get full training on these systems, not just operational but maintenance too.
Impressive collaboration. Exail's technology is battle-tested and L&T has solid industrial base. The unmanned MCM suite will be a force multiplier for Indian Navy. Strategic partnership with France continues to deepen - after Rafale, Scorpene, now this. India is wisely diversifying its defence partnerships beyond Russia. 💪
My only concern is the cost. These high-tech unmanned systems are expensive. With 12 MCM vessels needed, the budget must be substantial. I hope there's transparency in pricing and that the deal benefits Indian taxpayers. But if it helps protect our coastlines and ports, it's money well spent. Just ensure accountability.
This is what true self-reliance looks like - leveraging global expertise while building local capability. The combination of L&T's integration skills and Exail's unmanned systems tech is perfect. The fact that these systems have been validated in real-world deployments gives confidence. India and France are becoming trusted partners in defence innovation.
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