The Indian Navy's current fleet of Pondicherry-class minesweepers
includes the Kozhikode. India acquired the Soviet-built ships in the
1970s.
Indian state-owned company Goa Shipyards Limited is looking for
other companies to supply the technology to build 12 mine
countermeasure vessels.
GSL was awarded a $5 billion non-competitive contract to build the
vessels in 2014, and has now floated a global expression of interest
from companies who are wiling to transfer the technology to build
the vessels. Analysts warn this could raise the cost of building the
ships, saying it would be cheaper to have them built overseas,
according to Defense News.
To acquire the technology, GSL has sent the EOI to Lockheed Martin
from the U.S., Kangnam from South Korea, Intermarine from Italy,
Navantia from Spain, Thyssenkrupp from Germany, and two Russian
shipyards.
The transfer of technology contract is valued at more than $1
billion, however this makes up only 20 percent of the total value of
the contract, according to an Indian Navy official. India's Ministry
of Defense canceled a 2008 global tender with Kangnam, citing their
alleged use of defense agents to pursue the deal is against Indian
law.
A mine countermeasure vessel is a naval ship designed to locate and
destroy naval mines, combining the role of minesweeper and mine
hunter.
India's government formed GSL in 1957 following the country's
blockade of Goa. It is used to manufacture warships for the Indian
Navy and the Indian Coast Guard. Currently, the company is in the
process of modernizing the fleet. The shipyard has built 167
vessels.
The Indian Navy currently uses between six and seven Soviet-era
minesweepers purchased in the late 1970's.