The Indian Ministry of Defence (MOD) has released a request for information (RFI) as part of a competitive tender process with the objective of selecting a local shipyard that will build four new landing platform docks (LPDs) for the Indian Navy.
Each ship must have a length of around 200 metres, a full load draught of eight metres, space for 540 crewmembers, a range of 10,000 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 16 knots, and either hybrid electric or all electric propulsion.
The MOD clarified that although only local shipyards may apply for the tender, these may work in partnership with foreign companies in submitting bid vessels. Shipyards that have fulfilled the requirements of the RFI will then be given the opportunity to respond to a request for proposal (RFP).
The selected shipyard will then be tasked with delivering the first LPD to the navy within five years of the initial contract signing. The remaining three ships will afterwards be delivered at a rate of one ship every 12 months.
