Navantia and Indian company Larsen & Toubro (L&T) have signed an agreement in Madrid to submit a joint proposal for the Indian Navy’s future program for four amphibious vessels. The alliance will allow the Spanish shipbuilder to compete for the project, known as the LPD program, although it does not yet constitute an award of the vessels.
The bid will draw on the design of the Spanish Navy’s LHD Juan Carlos I and the experience of the Canberra and Adelaide vessels built for the Royal Australian Navy. The four planned platforms will be intended for amphibious operations and may also be used for humanitarian assistance, disaster response, and other naval missions.
The agreement sets out the respective contributions of the two companies: L&T will provide its engineering and shipbuilding capabilities, while Navantia will contribute its expertise in the design and development of naval platforms. The partnership also includes the development in India of industrial capabilities to build large military vessels.
The companies envisage long-term cooperation spanning the life cycle of the future LPDs. Navantia will bring to the Indian tender the experience gained from a family of vessels derived from the Juan Carlos I, while L&T will take responsibility for the local engineering and shipbuilding component.
