The DAC (Defence Acquisition Council) today chaired by Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh approved capital acquisition proposals worth Rs 52,000 crore. Among them was a gigantic Rs 4,000 crore order for 1,000 indigenously designed and developed sea mines— the Multi Influence Ground Mine (MIGM) naval mines.  This is India’s largest order for naval mines and deliveries are likely to be staggered over five years. 

Naval mines are underwater explosive devices that explode to destroy ships and submarines. They are area denial weapons used in naval warfare to control sea lanes, protect harbours or disrupt enemy operations. Naval mines were one of the key weapons Tehran used in the recent conflict with the US to blockade the Strait of Hormuz through which 25 per cent of the world’s energy supplies pass through. 

The MIGM is developed by the Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL) a DRDO research facility located in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. After today’s DAC clearance, Request for Proposals (RFP) will be sent to production partners, private sector Apollo Microsystems and public sector Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL). This will be followed by a formal order being placed by the Indian Navy. 

The MIGM is around 3 metres long, cylindrical, weighs around 1 ton and has a 600 kg high explosive charge. It was successfully tested in May 2025 with a reduced charge. The MIGM is a smart, programmable mine, different from traditional sea mines which are ‘dumb’, designed to explode when any vessel— whether friend or foe— passes by. It can be used to create a programmable minefield- where only enemy vessels are targeted.  It has additional onboard sensors to detect Underwater Electric Potential or UEP and an extra low frequency electric field or ELFE signatures generated by marine vessels, to trigger its explosive charge. 

The MIGM is capable of silent operation, which means it passively monitors underwater activity without alerting the enemy. It is capable of selective activation, which means it detonates only when specific threat signals are detected. It can be quickly deployed in key coastal areas or deep-sea areas. The system is designed to work independently for extended periods. 

The Indian Navy has used naval mines in conflict just once— in support of the Mukti Bahini, who were fighting to liberate Bangladesh in the run-up to the 1971 Indo-Pak war. The Indian Navy modified British-made Mark 7 air-dropped mines and fitted them on gunboats. These mine-laying gunboats then mined the approaches to the Pussur River in East Pakistan, blocking the entry of merchant ships.

Since 1971, the Indian Navy has used four types of mines- ground mines and moored mines, swimout mines deployed from submarine torpedo tubes and limpet mines, placed by combat divers. The Indian Navy uses Processor-Based Ground Mines Mark 1, developed by the DRDO’s Naval Science and Technological Laboratory or the NSTL. 

Arjun Dev Singh

Arjun Dev Singh has a deep interest in defence, security, and strategic affairs. With a strong analytical lens and a passion for military and geopolitical developments, Arjun strives to bring clarity and context to complex national and international issues.