India seeks four amphibious warships to boost naval reach

Key facts

• India is seeking four large amphibious warships.
• The program is valued at nearly 500 billion rupees ($6 billion).
• The warships will support naval logistics and humanitarian missions.
• Experts say their value depends on effective utilization during crises.

India has initiated a significant naval expansion by inviting bids for four large amphibious warships, a program estimated to cost nearly 500 billion rupees ($6 billion). These vessels, each with a displacement exceeding 30,000 tonnes, are intended to bolster the Indian Navy's capacity for supporting logistical operations and humanitarian missions across the Indian Ocean region. Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar, the Indian Navy Vice Chief, announced on Monday that bids have been invited for these landing platform docks (LPDs). Security experts have noted that the true value of these warships will hinge on the navy's ability to effectively deploy and utilize them during times of crisis.