Indian Navy Inducts First Indigenous Multi-Purpose Vessel Samarthak

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Key takeaways

The Indian Navy officially inducted INS Samarthak, its first indigenously designed Multi-Purpose Vessel built by Larsen & Toubro Ltd. (L&T) at Kattupalli.
The vessel displaces 3,750 tonnes and contains over 75% indigenous content, contributing to the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision in defense manufacturing.
Samarthak serves as a specialized floating testbed for DRDO and private firms to evaluate developmental radars, sonars, and missile systems.
It acts as a mothership for UAVs, USVs, and UUVs while also performing ocean towing, oil-spill cleanup, and HADR disaster response.

The Indian Navy received 'Samarthak', which is its first indigenously designed and built Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV).
Private defense manufacturer Larsen & Toubro Ltd. (L&T) constructed and delivered the ship at its Kattupalli shipyard near Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
This vessel is the first of two planned MPVs under construction by L&T, with the second ship INS Utkarsh launched in 2025 and currently undergoing sea trials.
The name 'Samarthak' translates to 'The Proponent' or supporter, signifying its role as an adaptable support ship for diverse naval operations.

The vessel has a displacement of approximately 3,750 tonnes and incorporates over 75% indigenous content.
It acts as a floating test platform for the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and private firms to evaluate new radars, sonars, and missile systems at sea.
The ship provides training support for fleet air-defense and Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) drills by launching, towing, and recovering high-speed aerial and surface targets.
It functions as a mothership capable of deploying, controlling, and recovering autonomous platforms such as UAVs, USVs, and UUVs for reconnaissance and mine countermeasures.
Engineers equipped the ship with heavy-lift deck cranes and winches to tow damaged warships and transfer cargo between offshore platforms.
The vessel carries oil-spill containment tools for environmental protection alongside medical facilities and cargo bays for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions.

This delivery highlights the growing capability of India's private sector in complex naval shipbuilding.
By taking over trial, training, and towing duties, Samarthak allows frontline warships to focus fully on core combat and deterrence roles.
High indigenous content strengthens national defense manufacturing under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.
The platform enhances India's overall operational readiness and emergency response capacity across the Indian Ocean Region.