On 18 June 2026, the Indian Coast Guard inducted its first indigenous Air Cushion Vehicle (ACV), or hovercraft, in Goa. Built by Chowgule & Company Pvt Ltd, it is the first of six planned ACVs and contains about 50% indigenous content.
The hovercraft travels on a cushion of air, enabling operations over shallow waters, mudflats, marshes, sandy beaches, and land, where conventional boats face limitations. It will strengthen coastal security, surveillance, search and rescue missions, anti-smuggling operations, maritime reconnaissance, and environmental protection along India’s 7,500 km coastline.
