New Delhi, October 17, 2026: The Indian Navy has commissioned INS Samarthak, its first indigenously built Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV), designed to support the testing of advanced weapons and sensors, maritime surveillance, offshore patrolling and disaster relief operations. Built by Larsen & Toubro (L&T), the vessel is also India’s first major warship constructed by a private Indian shipyard, according to the Ministry of Defence.
INS Samarthak was formally commissioned at the Karwar naval base in Karnataka on October 16, 2026, at a ceremony presided over by Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan. Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan and other senior defence officials attended the event.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the vessel is the first of its class and has been developed as a versatile naval platform capable of supporting a range of operational and technological requirements.
One of its key functions will be to support the testing and evaluation of indigenous weapons and sensors. The ship will provide a platform for assessing naval equipment developed in India, helping the Navy evaluate new technologies and their suitability for operational use.
In addition to equipment testing, INS Samarthak is designed to undertake maritime surveillance, reconnaissance and offshore patrolling. It can also support Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations during emergencies.
The ministry said the vessel has more than 75% indigenous content, reflecting the growing participation of Indian manufacturers in naval shipbuilding and defence equipment development.
INS Samarthak was designed and constructed by L&T Shipyard using modular construction and pre-outfitting techniques. These methods involve building and equipping sections of a ship before final assembly, helping streamline the shipbuilding process.
According to the Defence Ministry, the commissioning marks a significant milestone for India’s private shipbuilding sector, demonstrating its ability to construct major naval vessels for the Indian Navy.
An earlier ministry announcement stated that the Multi-Purpose Vessel class measures approximately 106 metres in length and has a designed maximum speed of 15 knots.
INS Samarthak was launched at L&T’s Kattupalli shipyard in October 2024 and delivered to the Indian Navy in August 2026 before being formally commissioned at Karwar.
The ship’s commissioning marks its induction into naval service, rather than the announcement of a future acquisition or construction project.
The vessel is intended to support the Navy’s growing need to evaluate domestically developed equipment while also carrying out maritime operations. Its flexible design allows it to undertake various assignments, including surveillance, offshore patrols and disaster relief missions.
The Ministry of Defence also highlighted the project’s contribution to domestic employment, industrial development and technological capabilities under the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.
The commissioning of INS Samarthak adds a domestically built multi-purpose naval platform to the Indian Navy’s fleet. Its combination of equipment-testing and maritime operational capabilities is expected to support the development of indigenous naval technologies and strengthen the Navy’s ability to undertake specialised missions.
