MDL, Swan Defence Sign Pact to Build Navy Landing Platform Docks

In a major step towards bolstering India’s maritime defence capabilities, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) and Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Ltd (SDHI) signed an exclusive Teaming Agreement to jointly design and construct Landing Platform Docks (LPDs) for the Indian Navy. The agreement was formalised at India Maritime Week 2025 in Mumbai on 28 October 2025, shortly after the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) gave its nod for the acquisition.

What Are Landing Platform Docks?

Landing Platform Docks (LPDs) are large amphibious warfare ships that can transport troops, vehicles, equipment, and aircraft. They enable navies to,

• Project power ashore in hostile environments
• Conduct amphibious landings and special operations
• Provide Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) during emergencies
• Support joint and expeditionary operations

These ships are essential for a blue-water navy like India’s, especially amid evolving strategic needs in the Indo-Pacific and increasing maritime security challenges.

Details of the Agreement

• MDL, under the Ministry of Defence, is India’s premier shipbuilding entity with a proven track record in naval platforms.
• Swan Defence and Heavy Industries (SDHI), formerly Reliance Naval Engineering Ltd, operates the Pipavav Shipyard in Gujarat—India’s largest shipbuilding and fabrication facility.
• The Teaming Agreement (TA) allows both entities to combine infrastructure, expertise, and resources to deliver high-quality LPDs.
• The signing was led by Biju George, Director, Shipbuilding at MDL, and Vivek Merchant, Director at SDHI.
• This partnership reflects a shift towards public-private synergy in defence manufacturing, aligning with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat mission.

Defence Acquisition Council Approval

The project received formal approval from the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) just a week before the agreement. The DAC cleared the acquisition of multiple LPDs for the Navy at an estimated cost of ₹33,000 crore.

This approval,

• Highlights the strategic priority assigned to amphibious capability
• Marks one of the largest indigenous naval procurement projects
• Will create significant employment and industrial output across India’s shipbuilding sector

The LPDs are expected to be built in India, with a high degree of indigenisation and use of local technologies and suppliers.