Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited (SDHI) have entered into an exclusive teaming agreement for the design and construction of Landing Platform Docks (LPDs) for the Indian Navy. The agreement was signed during India Maritime Week 2025 in Mumbai.
According to a press release issued by Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited on 28 October 2025, the partnership follows the Defence Acquisition Council’s recent approval for acquiring LPDs — large amphibious vessels capable of supporting power projection, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief missions.
Under the arrangement, MDL will provide expertise in ship design, project management, and system integration, while SDHI will contribute its large-scale shipbuilding infrastructure at Pipavav, Gujarat. The collaboration aims to merge MDL’s technical proficiency with SDHI’s manufacturing capacity to enhance efficiency, quality, and cost competitiveness in the construction process.
MDL Chairman and Managing Director Capt. Jagmohan said the LPDs are essential to India’s maritime capability, adding that the partnership seeks to “set new benchmarks in quality, efficiency, and timeliness” through public–private collaboration. SDHI Director Vivek Merchant stated that the company aims to deliver “technologically advanced, globally competitive platforms” to strengthen the Navy’s blue-water capabilities.
Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited, formerly known as Reliance Naval and Engineering Limited, operates India’s largest dry dock at Pipavav, measuring 662 metres by 65 metres, with a fabrication capacity of 144,000 tons per annum. The company focuses on shipbuilding and heavy fabrication for defence and industrial applications.
