Spanish shipbuilder Navantia and India's Larsen and Toubro (L&T) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate on the Indian Navy's planned four-ship landing platform dock (LPD) programme.
The companies said the partnership will combine Navantia's naval ship design experience with L&T's engineering and shipbuilding capabilities and will develop local capacity for large-ship construction.
Navantia said designs from the family of landing helicopter docks (LHD) that includes Spain's Juan Carlos I and Australia's Canberra and Adelaide will form the basis of the offering.
"We are confident that this partnership will contribute to strengthening India's maritime capabilities and advancing the country's autonomy in constructing such complex and essential platforms," said Arun Ramchandani, head of Precision Engineering & Systems at L&T.
The two companies were reported by September 2018 to have offered a Juan Carlos I-based design for the programme.
India issued a request for information for the four ships in 2021. It was open only to Indian shipyards, which could work with foreign partners and designs, and it called for ships up to about 200 metres long with a through flight deck and capacity for 900 troops.
India's Defence Acquisition Council granted Acceptance of Necessity for the procurement on October 23, 2025. As of late August 2026, no shipbuilding contracts had been placed.
The Indian Navy currently operates a single LPD, the former US Navy vessel INS Jalashwa.
