Shardul

The Shardul class represents an Indian-built large landing ship tank class produced by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers. It followed the earlier Magar class and was ordered to improve India's amphibious sealift with larger, more capable domestically constructed ships. The programme reinforced Indian naval shipbuilding capability in a practical support-vessel category.

Shardul-class ships are landing ship tank large vessels built for amphibious transport and beaching operations. They can carry vehicles, troops, and stores, and include aviation facilities for helicopter support. Their size and propulsion give them better endurance and payload flexibility than the older medium landing ships they supplemented.

Operationally, the Shardul class gives the Indian Navy a versatile platform for amphibious movement, training, humanitarian assistance, and evacuation tasks. These ships are valuable in the Indian Ocean because they can move military or relief cargo to ports and austere coastal areas. Their service also supports India's ability to operate across island chains and littoral regions.