Philippines opens tender for 2 new Landing Platform Docks

Philippine Navy Tarlac-class LPD BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602) in Hawaii for RIMPAC 2018. Photo c/o US Navy.

The Philippines’ Department of National Defense (DND) released an invitation to bidders for a new tender for two (2) new Landing Platform Docks (LPD) for the Philippine Navy (PN).

The budget for the ships is Php5.56 billion (US$107.5 million), which was described to allow improved amphibious operations capability, transport and logistics, and sea basing capabilities.

Filipino defense page MaxDefense Philippines detailed the project’s technical requirements, while also explaining that the deal includes the supply of two complementing Landing Craft Utilities (LCU) and Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) for each LPD.

Each ship is expected to be at least 120 meters long, with a displacement not less than 7,200 tons, capable of operating at sea state 6, a maximum speed of at least 16 knots powered by two diesel engines, and a maximum range of at least 8,000 nautical miles. 

The ship should also have a hangar for 1 and flight deck for two 10-ton medium helicopters, accommodation for a marine battalion of 500 men and space for at least 8 amphibious assault vehicles, and can carry two existing missile-armed assault boats of the Philippine Navy.

It was expected that Indonesian state-owned shipyard PT PAL and Dutch shipbuilder Damen would be leading the tender, although offers were said to have been made from Indian and South Korean shipbuilders. PT PAL previously delivered an earlier batch of LPDs to the PN, subsequently named as the Tarlac-class.

The new LPDs are expected to replace the remaining World War II-era Landing Ship Tanks (LST) still in service with the PN, as it moves to retire all legacy ships by 2020.



[1] Philippines Department of National Defense
[2] MaxDefense Philippines
[3] Jane’s 360