Indian Navy Commissions Indigenous Multi-Purpose Warship INS Samarthak

The Indian Navy commissioned INS Samarthak, an indigenously built multi-purpose vessel, at Naval Base Karwar in Karnataka on Friday, with Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan presiding over the ceremony.

Built by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) under the government’s Make in India initiative, the vessel is designed to support a wide range of naval operations, from maritime surveillance and weapons testing to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

The commissioning marks a milestone in India’s efforts to expand domestic defence manufacturing and strengthen the Navy’s operational capabilities.

According to the Ministry of Defence, Samarthak is the first of four multi-purpose vessels being inducted into the fleet.

The vessel was delivered to the Navy on August 27, 2026, after being built at L&T’s Kattupalli shipyard near Chennai. More than 75 per cent of its content is indigenous, according to the Defence Ministry.

The ship was conceived as a versatile platform that can support several missions rather than being restricted to a single operational role.

A MULTI-ROLE PLATFORM FOR NAVAL OPERATIONS

Samarthak is primarily designed for maritime surveillance and patrolling. It can also undertake Low Intensity Maritime Operations, provide a platform for target deployment and trials, and operate as a mothership for unmanned and autonomous systems.

Its role as a trials platform is particularly significant for the development of indigenous naval technology. The vessel can support the testing and evaluation of weapons, sensors and other systems under development, allowing the Navy to assess equipment in a maritime environment.

The ship can also support salvage operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions. In emergencies, it can be converted into a limited hospital ship, giving it a role beyond conventional naval operations.

Its integrated combat suite combines indigenous sensors, weapons and electronic systems designed to operate in challenging maritime conditions.

INDIA’S PUSH FOR DEFENCE SELF-RELIANCE

Samarthak’s induction is part of the government’s broader push to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers and expand India’s domestic defence industrial base.

The Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives have encouraged greater participation by Indian companies in the design and construction of military platforms.

The contract for two multi-purpose vessels was signed with L&T in March 2022. The keel-laying ceremony for Samarthak and its sister vessel, Utkarsh, took place at the company’s Kattupalli shipyard in March 2023. Samarthak was launched in October 2024 before being delivered to the Navy in August this year.

The programme also reflects the growing role of private shipyards in naval construction. L&T developed and built the vessel at its own shipyard, expanding the contribution of private industry to India’s warship-building capabilities.

Multi-purpose vessels can support different operational requirements from a single platform, including trials, surveillance, unmanned-system operations and emergency response. This flexibility makes them useful for a Navy that needs to maintain maritime security while also developing and evaluating new technologies.

THE NAME AND MOTTO

The name Samarthak means “supporter” and reflects the vessel’s intended role as an enabler of multiple naval missions. Its crest depicts an Indian elephant emerging from the waves, symbolising strength, intelligence and agility.

The ship’s motto is “Victory is Our Sole Aim”.

With inputs from ANI