the Indian Navy has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to shortlisted domestic shipyards for four Landing Platform Docks (LPDs), Vice Chief Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar said on October 19. The RFP asks shipbuilders to submit technical and commercial bids, moving the long-running project into a formal procurement stage. The estimated cost is nearly ₹ 50,000 crore.
Each ship is expected to displace more than 30,000 tonnes and measure about 220 metres in length. They would become the largest combat ships built in India after the 45,000-tonne aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. The Navy currently operates one LPD, INS Jalashwa, acquired from the United States.
The vessels are designed to carry troops, vehicles, tanks and artillery, then move them from ship to shore using landing craft and helicopters. Each is expected to accommodate 900 fully equipped Army personnel, alongside a crew of 60 officers and 525 sailors. The reported aviation complement includes two heavy-lift helicopters and 12 helicopters for special operations.
LPDs are not simply troop transports. The Navy’s planned ships are also intended to provide command facilities, fire support and coordination for unmanned aerial and underwater vehicles. Their size and onboard capacity could allow forces to remain at sea and sustain operations ashore, including in areas where port infrastructure or jetties are unavailable.
That combination has military and humanitarian applications. In a conflict, the ships could help move and support a combined force over a coastline. In a disaster, they could carry personnel, equipment and supplies to areas where damaged infrastructure limits access. The project therefore adds a flexible platform for operations across the Indian Ocean, while its actual contribution will depend on the ships’ final design, equipment and readiness once delivered.
The programme has been in development for years. In 2021, the Ministry of Defence issued an initial request for information for four LPDs, inviting Indian shipyards to assess the requirement; the process allowed domestic yards to work with foreign partners. That early planning described a ship capable of carrying troops, operating helicopters and landing craft, and supporting humanitarian missions. The 2026 RFP marks a substantial step beyond that preliminary market assessment, although it does not itself mean a construction contract has been awarded.
The ships are expected to use electric propulsion developed through India-UK industrial collaboration. 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 propulsion system is intended to be co-designed, co-created and co-produced, adding a domestic industrial dimension to the shipbuilding effort.
The tender comes as India seeks to expand its maritime reach and strengthen its ability to operate beyond its coastline. Amphibious ships can support deployments, evacuations and relief missions without relying entirely on foreign ports or local facilities. They also enable closer coordination between naval, land and air forces-capabilities that have gained emphasis in India’s joint planning.
The next milestones will be the evaluation of bids, selection of a shipyard or shipyards, and the eventual contract award. The RFP is a major procurement step, but the ships will take years to design, build and integrate. Their strategic value will ultimately depend not only on their size and aircraft capacity, but on timely delivery, trained crews and the ability to operate them as part of a coordinated force.
