New Delhi: The Indian Navy will commission Samarthak, its first indigenously built multi-purpose vessel, at naval base Karwar on October 16. Constructed by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) at its Kattupalli shipyard near Chennai. The ship will support maritime patrols, equipment trials and specialized missions involving unmanned systems.
Delivered on August 27 after an October 2024 launch, Samarthak contains over 75 per cent indigenous content. Delivery preceded formal commissioning into service.
Designed for maritime surveillance, reconnaissance and offshore patrols, Samarthak can launch and recover targets used in exercises and serve as a platform for evaluating indigenous weapons and sensors. The Navy’s commissioning announcement also lists low-intensity maritime operations, salvage assistance, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and conversion into a limited hospital ship among its intended roles.
The vessel is designed to operate as a mothership for unmanned and autonomous systems, meaning it can deploy and support smaller uncrewed platforms at sea. L&T says it also has a dynamic positioning system for precise control during complex manoeuvres, while the Navy describes an integrated suite of indigenous sensors, weapons and electronic systems.
The dedicated trials platform offers an alternative to using frontline warships for equipment evaluations.
The defence ministry signed a contract with L&T in March 2022 for two multi-purpose vessels, Samarthak and Utkarsh. The second ship was launched in January 2025 and according to L&T’s September 2026 statement, remains under construction.
The latest Navy announcement calls Samarthak the first of four vessels planned for induction. However, publicly available defence ministry contract records establish only the two ships being built by L&T; separate orders for two additional vessels have not been confirmed.
Commenting on delivery, A T Ramchandani, head of L&T Precision Engineering & Systems, said: “This is a momentous occasion, and we are proud to have delivered the first of its kind multi-purpose vessel to the Navy.”
The name Samarthak means “supporter”. Its crest depicts an elephant emerging from waves, symbolizing strength, intelligence and agility, and its motto is “विजयार्थम् एकनिष्ठता” (“Victory is Our Sole Aim”).
The commissioning is scheduled for October 16 at Naval Base Karwar. The Navy’s announcement did not name a commanding officer or specify an initial deployment.