Navantia and L&T sign MoU for India's four-ship LPD programme
Navantia and Larsen & Toubro have formalised a partnership to jointly propose amphibious assault ships for the Indian Navy’s LPD program, leveraging their combined expertise to meet India’s naval modernization goals.
Navantia and Larsen & Toubro have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on the Indian Navy's programme for four amphibious assault ships. The strategic agreement was formalised in Madrid, advancing a long-stalled effort to renew India's amphibious fleet.
Building on proven designs
The partnership will base its offering for the Indian Landing Platform Dock programme on Navantia's existing landing helicopter dock designs. These proven vessels include the Spanish Navy's Juan Carlos I and the Royal Australian Navy's Canberra and Adelaide. The collaboration combines Navantia's naval ship design experience with L&T's domestic engineering and shipbuilding capabilities.
Addressing a capability gap
India's amphibious force has weakened significantly. The decommissioning of older landing ship tanks has left the navy with a limited capability. The sole ex-US Navy LPD, INS Jalashwa, serves as the flagship amphibious vessel. Just four landing ship tanks remain in service.
| Vessel Class | Number in Service | Commissioning Era |
|---|---|---|
| Shardul class | 3 | Late 2000s |
| Magar class (INS Gharial) | 1 | 1997 |
These are supported by eight Mk IV landing craft utility vessels commissioned in the late 2010s and several smaller craft. The new LPD programme envisions four platforms for expeditionary operations, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief.
Programme background and status
The Indian Navy's requirement for new LPDs dates to a Request for Information released in 2021. That document called for four vessels approximately 200 metres long with electric propulsion and a capacity for 900 troops. It specified a through flight deck capable of accommodating various helicopters, effectively defining a landing helicopter dock. The RFI also outlined a heavy armament requirement, including 16 anti-ship missiles and 32 vertical launch short-range surface-to-air missiles. India's Defence Acquisition Council granted Acceptance of Necessity for the procurement on October 23, 2025.
Local industrial goals
The collaboration aims to develop India's domestic capacity to build large warships. The proposed LPD would be about 220 metres long with a displacement of approximately 29,000 tonnes. Planned equipment includes multi-function radars, a combat management system, integrated full electric propulsion, and various landing craft and unmanned vehicles. An L&T executive stated that the partnership would strengthen India's maritime capabilities and advance the country's autonomy in constructing complex platforms. Navantia and L&T had previously offered a Juan Carlos I-based design for the programme as far back as September 2018. As of late August 2026, no shipbuilding contracts had been placed for the programme.
