High Speed Landing Craft (HSLC)

Recently, Indian Navy had called for request for information (RFI) from interested parties to supply HSLC so as to enhance its capability to land troops, tanks and armoured vehicles on enemy coasts.

The Landing craft are small and medium sized seagoing vessels which are used to convey a landing force (infantry and vehicles) from the sea to the shore during an amphibious assault. The Indian Navy in the immediate requirement of HSLCs as they can be operated from landing platform docks (LPDs) or large amphibious warships and also facilitating better amphibious operations which could be anchored 25-30 miles offshore. According to the RFI, the intended use High speed Landing Craft is that, it should be capable of undertaking operations in support of assault missions and be useful for transporting vehicles, equipment, cargo and personnel from ship to shore and vice-versa. The Navy has asked for the HSLC having strong bulletproof and armour plating with machine guns on both sides, thus providing protection to the personnel it is transporting. It will also have cameras for all-round viewing thus it is believed that in coming time, with the contribution of HSLC, Indian Navy will be able to carry out better and stronger amphibious operations.