Indian Navy Developments & Discussions

Haldilal

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WolfPack86

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Setback for private shipyards as Navy cancels Rs 20,000 cr Landing Platform Docks contract

Seven years after it first initiated it, the defence ministry has withdrawn a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Rs 20,000 crore Landing Dock Platform project, which is being seen as a setback to private domestic shipyards that were interested in it.

These Landing Dock Platforms (LPDs), also known as amphibious transport docks by some navies, are meant to weigh around 30,000 tonnes, and be able to carry an Army battalion, tanks and armoured carriers into a war zone, along with helicopters.

Sources in the defence and security establishment said the Navy will now decide new qualitative requirements for the amphibious warships, because too much time has elapsed since the RFP was put out.


However, a different set of sources say that more than the ‘time gap’, the real issue was the emergence of a single-vendor situation, with an internal capability assessment going against one of the two shipyards in contention.

The retraction took place on 25 September, sources said, adding that the RFP has been withdrawn after nine extensions and one re-submission of bids in seven years.

It is hoped that the new RFP for the warships will allow much wider participation and could also involve public shipyards. The entire process will take time, the sources admitted.

The RFP process

In November 2013, the Navy had invited proposals from private shipyards to build four LPDs at an approximate cost of Rs 20,000 crore.

In July 2014, three shipyards — ABG Shipyard, L&T Shipbuilding and Reliance Naval (then called Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering Company Ltd) — submitted bids. They were the only technically qualified shipyards for the project.

Between 2014 and 2017, the defence ministry extended the bid four times, before disqualifying ABG due to financial stress and loan defaults. It then directed L&T Shipbuilding and Reliance Naval for resubmission of the commercial bid.

Then, between 2017 and 2020, the ministry asked both to extend their commercial bid five times.

The plan was for the Indian shipyards to tie up with foreign firms to build the LPDs in India.

French defence giant DCNS, which is already building Scorpene submarines in India through its domestic partner Mazagaon Dock Ltd (MDL) in Mumbai, was also eyeing the project. DCNS had tied up with Pipavav (now Reliance Naval) and was supposed to provide technical and design assistance.

L&T, meanwhile, had tied up with Spain’s Navantia, and was considered the front-runner for the LPD project.

CAG report

Last month, a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report noted that the Indian Navy does not have adequate auxiliary vessels, LPDs, fleet tankers and cadet training ships.

The CAG noted that the existing capability of the LPD was found to be inadequate to meet requirements of amphibious and expeditionary operations.

“This was due to failure to fix a specified time frame for obtaining a corporate debt restructuring exit certificate by one of the participating firms,” the report stated.



 

Dessert Storm

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What is the difference between types of amphibious ships?



Jeffrey Smidt

Answered May 7, 2018 · Upvoted by Mike Freeman, Retired at U.S. Marine Corps · Author has 8.1K answers and 1.1M answer views

A lot less difference than there used to be.
Dedicate amphibious warfare ships are essentially a product of World War 2. Prior to then, troops were carried by various warships and what ever civilian transport could be pressed into service. Troops were landed either by ships boats rowing them ashore, or ships had to go pierside to off load.
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Early in WW2, Cargo ships (AK) and passenger liners (AP) were taken over by militaries to serve as transports. Passenger liners (AP) typically had small cargo holds to carry some equipment, and cargo ships (AK) carried heavier stuff, with small complements of troops. These ships were modified and new ships built as Attack Transports (APA) and Attack Cargo ships (AKA) with more armaments for self protection, and dedicated assault craft carried to land the troops. Small craft like LCPL for command and control, LCVP (the classic landing craft) and larger LCM for larger equipment.
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Specialised amphibious ships were also built, like LSD (Landing Ship Dock which could flood down, and launch a large number of landing craft or amphibious tractors) LST (Landing Ship Tanks ) which could run up onto the beach a directly discharge tanks, vehicles and men ashore, LSI (Landing Ship Infantry) which also went ashore to land men. All kinds of additional types were built, LCT, AGC, LSM, LCI (D), LCI (R), and on an on, trying to find the perfect tool for the situation.
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Post WW2, the US Navy designated all the dedicated amphibious warfare ships with the L prefix, for Amphibious. APA's became LPA, AKA became LKA and AGC became LCC for Amphibious Command Ships. Helicopters cause further changes leading to the creation of LPH (Amphibious Transport Helicopter or as known as Amphibious Assault ship) and the LPD (Amphibious Transport Dock). Further development combined the LPH and LPD functions into the LHA/LHD multipurpose Amphibious Assault ship.
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Today, the US Navy has mainly uses the LHD/LHA as the large platform helicopter carrying transport, the LPD as the middle sized troop transport and the LSD as the smaller cargo focused vessel. These 3 ships generally make up a Amphibious Ready Group, and carry a Marine Expeditionary Unit as a deployable unit.
 

Haldilal

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Nope. It was 20,000-25,000 tons LHD. 40,000 tons would be classified as LHA, similar to Wasp-class, America-class and Type-075.
It was 30,000 Tonnes. But look like after the launch of the Type 75 Class LHD. Need to opt for a 30,000 Plus LHD
 

Dessert Storm

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Okabe Rintarou

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I suggest, you don't rely on arbitrary news reports and look at the actual RFI. A length less than 213 meters limits the tonnage to somewhere around 30,000 at max. Look at what foreign shipyards were offering for the program. The largest offer was from Navantia with a 27,000 ton mini-carrier.
40,000 ton LHA reach lengths around 240-260 meters.
 

Dessert Storm

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I suggest, you don't rely on arbitrary news reports and look at the actual RFI. A length less than 213 meters limits the tonnage to somewhere around 30,000 at max. Look at what foreign shipyards were offering for the program. The largest offer was from Navantia with a 27,000 ton mini-carrier.
40,000 ton LHA reach lengths around 240-260 meters.
Jane's Defence quoted 40,000. The report is not available against the link now (link #361). Therefore I put the other one. Yes I broadly agree with you. Please do note that the foreign shipyards were offering models 'based on' xxxxxxx not the models themselves.
Sir, they wants 40,000-tonne landing platform docks (LPDs).

Please, check the link posted in post #361.
 

WolfPack86

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Tender for Rs 20,000-crore Landing Platform Docks project for Indian Navy scrapped
The Indian Navy has scrapped a tender to procure four Landing Platform Docks or amphibious warships at a cost of Rs 20,000 crore, nearly seven years after launching the acquisition process, government sources said.

The withdrawal of a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the long-pending project was triggered by the Navy's requirement of new specifications for the amphibious warships which are known as Landing Platform Docks (LPDs), the sources said.

The LPDs are used to transport troops, land warfare assets such as tanks, helicopters and vessels into a war zone by sea.


In a report tabled in Parliament, the Comptroller and Auditor General had last month taken strong exception to the India Navy's failure to conclude the contract to procure the LPDs even after deciding on the acquisition in 2010.

The Navy had issued initial tender for the mega project in 2013.

"The qualitative requirement has undergone lot of changes," said an official.

The Indian Navy now plans to start a fresh bidding process for acquisition of the fleet.

Three private sector companies -- Reliance Defence and Engineering Limited (RDEL), Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and ABG Shipyard -- were in the race initially for the mega project but ABG was disqualified on account of poor financial health

Each of the ships were likely to be in the range of 30,000 and 40,000 tonnes.

The national auditor had in September slammed the Navy for not being able to conclude the contract when it is reeling under a shortage of LPDs.
 

Killbot

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There is not enough helicopters with the Navy, plus no money to buy LHD. Best order LPD and when we get the helicopters, then LHD makes sense!
If they issue the new RFI next year, it'll take at least 10 years to award contract and another 5-6 to deliver first ship. We have a lot of time... Money is the primary concern.
 

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