Navantia ties up with L&T for Indian Naval Multi-Role Support Vessel programme

[TimeTraveller]

Navantia a Spanish state-owned shipbuilding company has tied up with
Indian Engineering major Larsen & Toubro Limited, (L&T ) in offering its
Multi-Role Support Vessel (MRSV) in Buy & Make in India
Acquisition specified by Government of India . Navantia has offered
modified Juan Carlos I class design which is a multi-purpose amphibious
assault ship.

Some of the modification which will be required to meet Indian navies
Request for Proposal (RFP) are shorter length of the ship Juan Carlos I
class ships are 230.82 m in length but Indian Navy has asked for ship
with 215 meters of length . Other changes required will be a change in
the type of Propellers from Pods to conventional shaft lines although
propulsion systems remains Diesel-electric. RFP also requests
provisions for 4 amphibious mechanized landing craft, Aviation deck able
to carry 10 heavy helicopters and ability to Accommodate 1,430
personnel, including 60 officers, 470 sailors, and 900 troops , ability
to carry six main battle tanks, 20 infantry combat vehicles and 40 heavy
trucks.

Australia is already building Two Canberra-class LHD based on Juan
Carlos I class ships in collaboration with Navantia first lead ship
already has been commissioned in Australian navy and second ship will be
commissioned next year both ship required 6 years to complete sea
trials and induction . Both Canberra-class LHD and Juan Carlos I class
ships have ski jump decks to operate 12 Sea Harriers or F-35B STOVL
variant , While Indian navy which operates Sea harriers will be retiring
them soon and Navy has no plans to operate F-35B variant so ski
jump decks might not be accommodated if selected .

While France likely will offer Mistral-class amphibious assault ship but
it will be a role reversal for France since to meet Indian navies
Request for Proposal (RFP) they will have to lengthen design
of Mistral-class to meet RFP of Indian Navy . While first export
customer for Mistral-class amphibious assault ship was supposed to Be
Russian navy But France has not committed to deliver this ships to
Russia over Ukraine crises also due to pressure from Europe and USA .

While France will require Russian Clearance to Re-Export them since
Ships still has Russian equipment in them and have been designed to
accommodate Russian Heavy Helicopters, it is unlikely India will buy
them since ships is smaller than RFP issued by Indian Navy and it has no
plans to operate Russians helicopters like /Ka/-/52K / naval attack
helicopters . other likely contenders for MRSV program are
Italian Fincantieri and South Korean Hanjin Heavy Industries.

Source : Navantia ties up with L&T for Indian Naval Multi-Role Support Vessel programme | idrw.org