India’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) helmed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for procurement of Landing Platform Docks (LPD), 30mm Naval Surface Guns (NSG), Advanced Light Weight Torpedoes (ALWT), Electro Optical Infra-Red Search and Track System and Smart Ammunition for 76mm Super Rapid Gun Mount.

The Indian Navy’s requirement for LPDs is long known, with a Request for Information (RFI) released in 2021. The RFI had called for four 200 meter long vessels with electric propulsion and the capacity to embark 900 troops. The RFI also required the LPDs to have a through deck capable of accommodating helicopters of various types, making the ship a LHD rather than an LPD. The ship was also required to be heavily armed, with 16 anti-ship missiles and 32 VLSRSAM missiles.