India had long sought to procure amphibious warfare vessels, including landing platform docks; multiple initiatives in procuring specified vessels of the aforementioned type were initiated as early as 2009.[3] However, such measures have been frequently delayed, on account of varying reasons.[4]
In addition Jalashwa, India was also offered the USS Nashville, another Austin-class vessel; however, the purchase was never made.[15][16]
"Multi-Role Support Vessel" Initiative (MRSV)
In 2011, the IN established the "Multi-Role Support Vessel" Program (MSRV), an initiative to acquire four landing platform docks from a foreign naval firm.[17] Under the initiative, India issued a Request For Information (RFI) to multiple foreign naval firms, under the "Buy and Make (Indian)" category of India's 2011 defense acquisition regulations.[18]
Under this program, which was then worth USD $2.65 billion, the three private shipyards tied up with different foreign conglomerates - L&T allied with the Spanish-based Navantia, RDEL allied with the Frech-based DCNS (now Naval Group), while ABG tied with the American-based Alion.[21] However, ABG suffered from severe financial constraints and was deeply in debt; the company was later disqualified from the tender on account of its financial woes.[22][23] L&T and RDEL were the only shipyards which met the technical and financial eligibility criteria in the tender; however, RDEL too suffered from increasing financial debts - which made it unsuitable for participating in the tender; this left L&T as the only prospective vendor in the bid.[24]
In 2017, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the arms acquisition body of India's Ministry of Defence (MoD), approved the procurement of the four vessels.[25] Concurrently, both L&T and RDEL submitted revised commercial bids to build all the four vessels, in stark contrast to the specifications of the 2013 tender, which regulated that the selected private shipyard must build only two vessels.[26]
From its inception in 2013 till 2020, the MRSV program underwent seven extensions and one re-submission of bids.[30]
In 2019, after a string of delays in the project, the IN approached the MoD to cancel the tender, then worth USD $3 billion.[31] With ABG disqualified from competing and RDEL on the brink of bankruptcy, L&T prevailed as the only qualified contender capable of handling the project; nonetheless, the MoD favored several suggestions of scrapping the tender, in order to circumvent a "single-vendor situation".[32]
In September 2020, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) criticized the IN over its failure to proceed with the project and lambasted the project's long-period of inactivity.[33][34] Later that month, the MoD scrapped the tender, then worth INR₹20,000 crore (US$2 billion), given the tender's prolonged inactivity and lack of action.[35] With the termination of the contract, the IN reportedly planned to initiate a fresh bidding process for the acquisition of a new fleet of landing platform docks, with new qualitative requirements.[36][37]
In November 2020, the IN revised its original plan of purchasing four landing platform docks to just two, citing severe budgetary constraints and inadequate funding.[38]
Revival
In August 2021, the MoD issued a new RFI for the procurement of four landing platform docks to domestic Indian shipyards, under guidelines of its "Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020" (DAP-2020).[39] According to the details of the RFI, the first vessel built should be ready for delivery within 60 months of the contract being signed, while the remaining three should be delivered at one-year intervals.[40] Further specifications of the RFI dictated that the competing Indian shipyards must seek transfer-of-technology (TOT) from a foreign naval shipbuilder, and that the four prescribed vessels must be built in India, with a proportion of indigenous content.[41]
Planned capabilities
To undertake "Out-of-Area Contingencies" (OOAC).
To support/assist land-based operations.
To execute disaster-response and humanitarian-relief operations.
To undertake fleet-support functions through replenishment capability and comprehensive workshop facilities.
To provide medical facilities for the treatment of battle-casualties.[42]
Based in Kochi, CSL is the largest shipbuilder in India and has long been a supplier to the IN.[43] Was principally involved in the construction of India's first indigenously designed aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant and many other vessels of the Navy, Coast Guard and Commercial ventures. Also a hub for Naval Ship Maintenance and Training.[44]
Based in Hazira and Kattupalli, L&T is a noted supplier to the IN and the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).[45] L&T's Hazira-based shipyard has the capability to build large vessels, with a tonnage of 20,000 t (20,000 long tons), with a length of 160 m (524 ft 11 in).[46]