India's rapidly modernising Coast Guard is evaluating advanced maritime and counter-drone technologies from Italy's state-controlled shipbuilder Fincantieri(BIT:FCT), as New Delhi accelerates efforts to close capability gaps across its vast Indian Ocean operational theatre.

According to a press release by India’s Ministry of Defence, senior representatives from Fincantieri, led by Military Naval Vessel Division head Eugenio Santagata, met Director General of India's Coast Guard Paramesh Sivamani at Coast Guard Headquarters in New Delhi.

Italy's Embassy in India’s Economics and Innovation Department head Anna Ruffino also attended, underscoring the strategic weight both governments attach to deepening defence-industrial ties. Counter-unmanned aerial systems and anti-drone defence featured prominently in the agenda, reflecting a global shift in maritime security doctrine following the widespread battlefield deployment of uncrewed systems in recent conflicts.

India's Coast Guard, tasked with policing one of the world's most strategically contested coastlines, has identified drone defence as a priority capability requirement. Shipbuilding discussions covered hull designs engineered for higher sea states, enhanced bollard pull, hybrid and electric propulsion architectures, and modular platform configurations enabling rapid operational role switching.

The talks also addressed co-development of dynamic positioning systems, advanced thrusters and artificial intelligence-enabled decision support tools, all areas where Fincantieri carries substantial proprietary expertise.

Both sides framed the engagement within India's Aatmanirbhar Bharat self-reliance framework, signalling that any resulting partnership would prioritise technology transfer and domestic manufacturing over straightforward procurement.

For Fincantieri, deepening its Indian footprint offers access to one of Asia's most active naval expansion programmes at a time when defence budgets across the region are rising sharply.

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