Project Power & Aid: India’s New Amphibious Fleet Redefines Naval Strategy 

In a major strategic expansion, India’s Defence Acquisition Council has approved a comprehensive naval modernization plan, headlined by the procurement of four new indigenously-built Landing Platform Docks (LPDs) at an estimated cost of ₹33,000 crores. These 20,000-ton vessels, designed with advanced Integrated Full Electric Propulsion, will fundamentally enhance India’s expeditionary capabilities by enabling complex amphibious assaults, serving as command hubs for unmanned systems, and leading humanitarian missions across the Indian Ocean.

The approval also includes sharpening the navy’s tactical edge with new Advanced Light Weight Torpedoes for anti-submarine warfare, 30mm Naval Surface Guns for low-intensity maritime operations, and Electro-Optical systems paired with smart ammunition to counter evolving threats like drone swarms, collectively marking a pivotal shift towards a more power-projective and self-reliant naval force.

Project Power & Aid: India’s New Amphibious Fleet Redefines Naval Strategy 

In a decisive move to bolster its maritime prowess, India has set in motion a plan to acquire a new class of cutting-edge warships that will fundamentally reshape its ability to project power and provide humanitarian aid across the Indian Ocean Region. The Defence Acquisition Council’s recent approval for new Landing Platform Docks (LPDs), alongside advanced torpedoes and gun systems, marks a pivotal moment in the Indian Navy’s modernization, signaling a shift from a primarily defensive coastal guardian to a formidable expeditionary force. 

More Than Just a Ship: The Strategic Imperative of the LPD 

The approval for four new Landing Platform Docks is the headline-grabbing element of this procurement, and for good reason. An LPD is not merely a transport vessel; it is a floating, seaborne command center and a potent symbol of a nation’s ability to conduct military operations far from its shores. The Indian Navy’s requirement, as detailed in its 2021 Request for Information (RFI), paints a picture of a vessel that blurs the lines between an LPD and a more capable Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD). 

These future warships, expected to be around 220 meters long with a displacement of over 20,000 tons, are envisioned as multi-role powerhouses. Their core mission will be to embark, transport, and land a combined arms force of up to 900 troops using a combination of landing craft, helicopters, and potentially unmanned systems. This capability is crucial for a nation with a vast coastline, strategic island territories (like the Andaman and Nicobar Islands), and a growing responsibility to secure its maritime interests. 

The most intriguing aspect is the technological leap these ships represent. The insistence on Integrated Full Electric Propulsion (IFEP) is a game-changer. Unlike traditional mechanical drives, IFEP uses the ship’s generators to power electric motors that turn the propellers. This offers greater fuel efficiency, reduced acoustic signature (making it harder for submarines to detect), and, most importantly, massive flexibility in power distribution. 

This “hotel of power” can be redirected to fuel futuristic systems like: 

• Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs): Laser systems for countering drones and missiles. 

• Electro-Magnetic Launch Systems (EMLS): For launching fixed-wing drones of up to 400kg, effectively giving the LPD its own organic air reconnaissance and strike capability without the need for a runway. 

• Advanced Sensors and Electronic Warfare Suites. 

The potential collaboration with the UK, centered on Rolls-Royce’s MT-30 gas turbine-based IFEP system—the same engine that powers the advanced USS Zumwalt and the UK’s Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers—underscores the ambition for this program. These LPDs are not just being built for today’s threats, but for the battlespace of 2040 and beyond. 

Decoding the Cost Conundrum: Capability vs. Affordability 

A significant point of analysis is the dramatic difference in cost. Initial reports suggested a staggering ₹80,000 crores for the LPD program, but the DAC has approved a much leaner ₹33,000 crores for all four ships. This discrepancy raises critical questions about the final design. 

Will the Navy sacrifice the heavily-armed profile from the RFI—which called for 16 anti-ship missiles and 32 Vertical Launch Surface-to-Air Missiles—for a more focused amphibious and support role? A less armed ship would be cheaper and faster to build, but would require more escorts (destroyers, frigates) for protection in high-threat environments. This cost-capability balance will be the central drama as the project moves to the Request for Proposal stage. The final design will reveal India’s true strategic calculus: does it want self-contained assault ships or more efficient “sea bases” that operate within a protective carrier battle group? 

Filling a Critical Capability Void 

The urgency for these new LPDs cannot be overstated. The Navy’s amphibious fleet has been in steady decline. The decommissioning of older Landing Ship Tanks (LSTs) has left a significant gap, with the fleet now relying heavily on a single, aging ex-US Navy vessel, INS Jalashwa, and just four operational LSTs. This limited capacity constrains India’s ability to rapidly respond to crises, whether a military contingency on a friendly nation’s coast or a natural disaster. 

The new LPDs will restore and exponentially enhance this capability. They will enable India to: 

• Execute complex amphibious assaults in support of national strategic objectives. 

• Lead multinational Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions, as seen during the 2004 Tsunami and the more recent cyclone responses. 

• Act as a command hub for coalition forces during peacekeeping or anti-piracy operations. 

• Serve as a mothership for a diverse fleet of unmanned underwater, surface, and aerial vehicles, exploring the ocean’s depths and expanding the Navy’s situational awareness. 

The Supporting Cast: Sharpening the Navy’s Tactical Edge 

While the LPDs represent strategic muscle, the other clearances are about sharpening the Navy’s tactical teeth. 

• Advanced Light Weight Torpedoes (ALWT): This is the successor to the indigenously developed TAL Shyena torpedo. The ALWT is designed to be launched from ships, helicopters, and potentially even from the new supersonic SMART missile system—a long-range “torpedo delivery truck.” This system is crucial for hunting modern, quiet conventional and nuclear submarines, a key threat in the region’s contested waters. 

• 30mm Naval Surface Guns (NSG): In the gritty, close-quarters world of low-intensity maritime operations—interdicting pirate skiffs, stopping suspicious dhows, or defending against terrorist attacks on harbors—the 30mm gun is the weapon of choice. This procurement will replace older, manually operated guns with modern, stabilized Remote Weapon Stations (RWS) that can be operated from the safety of the ship’s bridge, providing lethal, accurate fire against fast-moving surface threats. 

• Electro-Optical Infra-Red Search & Track (EOIRST) and Smart Ammunition: This is a direct response to the modern battlefield’s most prolific new threat: drones. The EOIRST system provides a passive (non-radiating) way to detect, track, and classify small, low-flying Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs). When paired with “smart” programmable ammunition for the ubiquitous 76mm Super Rapid Gun Mount, it gives every frigate and destroyer a cost-effective and potent shield against swarm attacks, ensuring that a million-dollar drone isn’t a threat to a billion-dollar warship. 

The Road Ahead: A Made-in-India Ambition 

The Acceptance of Necessity is just the starting pistol. The real challenge lies in the execution. The mandate for these LPDs to be “designed and constructed in India” is a monumental test for the country’s shipbuilding industry. It promises to create thousands of jobs, foster a deep-tier supplier ecosystem, and propel Indian naval design to world-class standards. Potential foreign collaboration will be key to transferring critical technologies, particularly in electric propulsion and combat management systems. 

If India can navigate the complexities of design, budgeting, and timely construction, this new fleet of LPDs will be more than just ships. They will be sovereign, mobile territories capable of delivering everything from humanitarian aid to decisive military force, cementing India’s role as a net security provider and a leading maritime power in the dynamic Indian Ocean.