Why LHDs are hard for medium navies to acquire

Why are LHDs not more common among medium-sized navies?

They are expensive, complicated ships with few easy off-the-shelf choices, so navies need both a suitable design and a strong operational rationale.

LHDs are complex and costly ships that can be a difficult leap for a medium navy. Introducing a small carrier may even be an easier conceptual step than adopting a large multi-role amphibious ship. The limited supply of mature off-the-shelf designs makes the procurement problem harder. Comparing the Canberra class with a possible British alternative shows how export availability, scale, utility, and national operating concepts all shape whether the type spreads.