Current Affairs - Defence - Discussion

The Indian Coast Guard inducted its first indigenous Air Cushion Vehicle (ACV), commonly known as a hovercraft, in Goa as part of efforts to strengthen maritime operational capabilities. Designed and built by Chowgule & Company Private Limited under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, the vessel is the first delivery from an order of six ACVs These amphibious craft can travel over water, land, mud, and other challenging surfaces using a cushion of high-pressure air. The project represents a significant step toward enhancing indigenous defence manufacturing, expanding India’s maritime industrial base, and improving the Coast Guard’s ability to conduct coastal surveillance, search-and-rescue operations, and environmental protection missions.