New Delhi: Tension still persists between India and China on the Line of Actual Control. With the motive to strengthen its presence and deployment in the Pangong Lake area in Ladakh, the Indian Army has contracted the acquisition of 12 boats. These boats would be fully armed and used for patrolling and rapid deployment of troops in and around that area.
According to news agency ANI, these boats are being built by Goa Shipyards Limited at its Vasco De Gama facility and it will have mounted guns at both front and rear and would be able to transport troops.
The Indian Army entered into a contract with M/s Goa Shipyard Limited for 12 fast patrol boats for monitoring and patrolling large water bodies, including those in high altitude areas. Their delivery will start from May 2021.
Army officials said, “The boats will be operated and maintained by the Engineers. These boats will be important in ensuring security along the borders/Lines of Control spread over vast water bodies, including those in high altitude areas,” Army officials said.
The high speed and manoeuvrable boats will be equipped with state-of-the-art onboard systems, they added.
In the initial phase of the conflict with India, the Chinese soldiers had used a large number of boats to ferry troops to areas near Finger 5 and Finger 6.
India also has a number of boats stationed there and the new boats will enhance the Indian ability to move around the lake which has been a dispute between the two countries for a long time.