Mumbai: Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) and Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Ltd (SDHI) have entered into an exclusive Teaming Agreement (TA) during the flagship India Maritime Week 2025 (IMW 2025) held in Mumbai. The collaboration will focus on the design and construction of Landing Platform Docks (LPDs) for the Indian Navy, according to the announcement made by the company.
Biju George, Director, Shipbuilding, MDL, and Vivek Merchant, Director, SDHI, signed the Teaming Agreement at the ongoing India Maritime Week 2025 in Mumbai on October 28. MDL is India’s premier defence shipyard company under the Ministry of Defence while SDHI is India’s largest shipbuilding and heavy fabrication company.
Under the Teaming Agreement, MDL will bring its extensive experience in ship design, project management, and system integration, while Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Ltd (SDHI) will provide its world-class shipbuilding infrastructure, the largest in the country, for the construction of the vessels. The partnership combines the technical, financial, and operational strengths of both shipyards to deliver an optimal solution for the Indian Navy.
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) recently approved the acquisition of LPDs, a critical capability addition for the Indian Navy to project power, undertake amphibious operations, and deliver humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions. The total cost is estimated to be around ₹33,000 crore.
This collaboration embodies the spirit of Public–Private Partnership (PPP) envisioned by the Government of India. By leveraging the efficiency, flexibility, and cost competitiveness of the private sector together with the proven capabilities, quality standards, and credibility of a leading public sector enterprise, the partnership aims to reduce build periods, enhance quality, and achieve cost efficiency in the construction of these complex platforms.
“We are excited to partner with MDL for this prestigious programme. Together, we aim to deliver technologically advanced, globally competitive platforms that will strengthen the Indian Navy’s blue-water capabilities,” said Vivek Merchant, Director, Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Ltd.
Captain Jagmohan, Chairman and Managing Director, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, said, “This partnership marks a new chapter in Indian shipbuilding. The LPDs are vital to India’s maritime power projection capability, and through this collaboration, we intend to deliver world-class ships built in India, for India.”
