The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced that a contract has been signed with local manufacturer Secon for a missile cum ammunition (MCA) barge.
Secon will build and deliver eight MCA barges to the Indian Navy. Financial details of the award have not been disclosed.
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Delivery of the units will take place from July this year.
The Indian Navy will use the barges for embarking and disembarking missile, gunnery and ASW ammunition to ships.
The contract is part of the government’s ‘Make in India’ efforts to boost local manufacturing capabilities in the defence sector.
According to the MoD’s Request for Information (RFI) for the procurement, the barges are required to have a total cargo tonnage capacity of up to 100t with no lifting gear.
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By GlobalDataThe barge should have a minimum life of 30 years. It should be capable of operating in Indian tropical environment conditions.
In addition, the length, breadth and height of the cargo hold of the barge should not be less than 25m x 6.5m x 4m. It should also be of double hull construction in way of hold.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, Turkish shipbuilding firm Anadolu Shipyard is reportedly said to support Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL).
As part of a technical collaboration agreement signed between the parties last year, Anadolu Shipyard will transfer technology to build five fleet support vessels (FSV) for the Indian Navy.
Anadolu Shipyard is part of Turkey’s TAIS consortium.
The project is estimated to cost between $1.5bn and $2bn.
The 230m-long FSVs will have a displacement capacity of 45,000t and provide fuel and other supplies for ships.
Last month, the Indian Defence Ministry revealed the successful firing of Combat Kh35E anti-ship missiles.
