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Chandigarh: As the war rages on in the Persian Gulf between Iran and the US–Israel combine, naval planners around the world are being daily reminded that a handful of mines can shut down vital sea lanes – precisely the threat the Indian Navy (IN) is currently ill-equipped to handle.

Naval mines have long been regarded by strategists as among the most efficient sea-denial weapons ever devised. Requiring relatively modest technology, they can be deployed covertly by ships, submarines, small boats and even improvised platforms, yet cripple both military and commercial traffic, like oil tankers, in inverse proportion to their size and cost.

Even a handful of smart or influence mines laid near harbour entrances or busy shipping channels can severely disrupt port operations, delay fleet movements and impose enormous economic costs. Modern mines equipped with acoustic, magnetic or pressure sensors can lie dormant for months before activating, making their detection and clearance slow, dangerous and highly specialised. It is precisely for this reason that most major navies maintain dedicated Mine Countermeasure Vessels (MCMVs) designed specifically to locate and neutralise such threats.

A modern MCMV is a specialised 700–1,000-tonne platform, typically 60–75 metres long with a shallow draft for operations close to shore. Built with non-magnetic composite or fibreglass hulls to avoid triggering influence mines, it carries high-resolution sonar, remotely operated or unmanned mine-disposal systems, and precision navigation equipment for detecting, classifying and neutralising mines.

For India, which imports nearly 90% of its oil and energy needs and relies on sea lanes running through the Gulf and the wider Indian Ocean Region, the ability to detect and clear naval mines should be a core naval capability. Yet, astonishingly for a self-declared maritime power so dependent on seaborne trade, it........

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