India Plans Four 30,000-Tonne Landing Platform Docks to Boost Naval Operations.
Indian Navy’s INS Dunagiri. (Represenative image).
Indian Navy Landing Platform Dock: The Indian Navy has moved forward with plans to acquire four large amphibious warships, issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to shortlisted domestic shipyards for a programme estimated to cost nearly ₹50,000 crore ($5.26 billion).
Vice Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar announced the development on 19 October, marking a significant step in a procurement project that has been under consideration for several years. The RFP invites shipbuilders to submit technical and commercial bids, bringing the programme into a formal tendering stage.
The proposed Landing Platform Docks (LPDs) are intended to expand India’s ability to transport troops, vehicles and equipment by sea, support military operations along coastlines and respond to humanitarian emergencies. Their large size and capacity would also give the Navy additional options for coordinating operations involving ships, helicopters, landing craft and unmanned systems.
However, issuing the RFP does not mean construction contracts have been awarded. The project must still progress through bid evaluation, shipyard selection, contract negotiations and the lengthy process of designing and building the vessels.
How large will India’s new amphibious warships be?
Each planned LPD is expected to displace more than 30,000 tonnes and measure approximately 220 metres in length. If built to these specifications, the ships would rank among the largest warships constructed in India, behind the 45,000-tonne aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.
The Indian Navy currently operates one LPD, INS Jalashwa, which India acquired from the United States.
The planned acquisition of four additional vessels would significantly expand the Navy’s amphibious transport capacity. Instead of relying on a single ship of this type, India would have a larger fleet for transporting personnel, supporting landings and sustaining operations at sea.
The ships are expected to accommodate approximately 900 fully equipped Army personnel each, in addition to a ship’s company comprising 60 officers and 525 sailors.
Their reported aviation complement includes two heavy-lift helicopters and 12 helicopters intended for special operations. The final configuration, however, will depend on the approved design and operational requirements.
The combination of troop accommodation, aviation facilities and space for vehicles and landing craft is central to the ships’ intended role. They are designed to move forces across the sea and deliver them to shore without requiring conventional port facilities.
What is a Landing Platform Dock?
A Landing Platform Dock is a large amphibious warship designed to transport military personnel and equipment from sea to land.
Unlike a conventional transport ship, an LPD is built to support amphibious operations, in which naval forces move troops, vehicles and supplies onto a coastline. It typically carries landing craft that can travel between the ship and shore, while helicopters provide another means of transporting personnel and equipment.
This flexibility is particularly useful when a coastline lacks suitable ports, jetties or other infrastructure. It can also help forces operate in areas where existing facilities have been damaged or are unavailable.
The ships can carry a combination of troops, armoured vehicles, tanks, artillery and logistical supplies. Their large internal spaces allow equipment to be transported together, reducing the need to move personnel and vehicles in separate stages.
The planned Indian LPDs are also intended to provide command facilities and support fire coordination, as well as operations involving unmanned aerial and underwater vehicles.
These functions would allow the ships to serve as more than troop carriers. They could help coordinate different elements of a naval task force and support operations involving personnel, aircraft, surface vessels and autonomous systems.
Why the ships matter for India’s maritime strategy
India’s maritime interests extend well beyond its coastline, encompassing major shipping routes and strategic waterways across the Indian Ocean.
Large amphibious ships could help the Navy transport forces over considerable distances while maintaining the equipment and supplies needed for operations ashore. Their ability to carry helicopters and landing craft would also give commanders different options for moving personnel and equipment.
In a military operation, an LPD could transport a combined force to a coastline and support its activities after landing. It could also provide facilities for coordinating naval and land forces, depending on the equipment fitted to the vessel.
The ships could have a role in evacuation operations, including the movement of civilians from areas affected by conflict or instability. Their capacity to carry personnel, vehicles and supplies could also support disaster relief following cyclones, floods, earthquakes or other emergencies.
For example, if a natural disaster damages roads, bridges and port infrastructure, an amphibious ship could potentially deliver relief supplies and personnel to an accessible stretch of coastline. Helicopters and landing craft could then help distribute those supplies to locations that are difficult to reach by conventional transport.
The usefulness of such missions would depend on the conditions at the affected location, the availability of suitable landing areas and the ships’ final equipment.
READ: Indian Navy’s Swavlamban 2026 to Bring Start-ups, Industry and Innovators Together
A project years in the making
The LPD programme has been under consideration for several years. In 2021, the Ministry of Defence issued an initial Request for Information (RFI) for four vessels, inviting Indian shipyards to assess the requirement and explore potential development arrangements, including collaboration with foreign partners.
An RFI is an early procurement step that helps the government understand the capabilities, industrial capacity and possible solutions available in the market. It is different from an RFP, which requests formal technical and commercial bids for a defined requirement.
The latest RFP therefore represents progress beyond the initial planning stage. Shortlisted shipyards must now prepare proposals that can be assessed against the Navy’s requirements, including technical specifications, costs and other contractual considerations.
The programme’s ultimate timeline will depend on the outcome of this process and the complexity of the selected design. Large warships require extensive engineering, equipment integration, testing and crew preparation, meaning that the interval between tendering and operational service can span several years.
READ: India and South Korea Coast Guards Strengthen Maritime Cooperation at High-Level Meeting in Incheon
India-UK cooperation on electric propulsion
The proposed ships are expected to use electric propulsion developed through industrial collaboration between India and the United Kingdom.
GE Vernova is involved in the programme and has partnered with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) to establish a land-based maritime testing facility.
The stated aim is to co-design, co-create and co-produce the propulsion system, combining international technology cooperation with the development of domestic industrial expertise.
Propulsion is a critical part of any large warship. It determines how the vessel moves through the water and affects its performance, reliability and maintenance requirements.
Electric propulsion systems use electric power to drive the vessel’s propulsion equipment. Their suitability for the planned LPDs will depend on the final engineering configuration and the Navy’s operational requirements.
The collaboration also reflects a wider approach to defence procurement: combining overseas expertise with Indian manufacturing and testing capabilities rather than treating domestic production and international cooperation as mutually exclusive.
The extent of domestic manufacturing and technology transfer will be important in determining how much long-term industrial capability India gains from the project.
The immediate priority is the evaluation of technical and commercial bids, followed by the selection of a shipyard or shipyards and the award of contracts.
Once a contract is finalised, the selected builders will need to complete the detailed design, construct the vessels and integrate their propulsion, communications, aviation, weapons and command systems. The Navy will then need to test and accept the ships before they can enter operational service.
The acquisition could expand India’s ability to conduct amphibious deployments, coordinate joint military operations and deliver assistance during humanitarian crises. But the actual contribution of the fleet will depend on more than the ships’ size or troop capacity.
Timely construction, reliable equipment, trained crews, logistical support and coordination with other military assets will all be important to their effectiveness.
For now, the RFP marks a major procurement milestone for India’s amphibious warfare ambitions. The proposed ₹50,000-crore ($5.26-billion) programme aims to give the Indian Navy four large, versatile vessels capable of moving forces from sea to shore and supporting operations across a wide range of military and humanitarian scenarios.
Don’t Miss: Raghu Vamsi Group Partners with Sheffield AMRC to Advance Super Alloy Manufacturing
Also Read: Nagastra-1R Delivery: How India’s Loitering Munition Programme Is Expanding