Mumbai: Larsen & Toubro has delivered Samarthak, the Indian Navy’s first indigenous Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV), marking the induction of a new platform designed for trials, surveillance, patrolling and humanitarian operations.
The vessel, built at L&T’s Kattupalli shipyard near Chennai, was handed over to the Indian Navy on August 27, according to the Ministry of Defence. It comprises more than 75 per cent indigenous content.
Samarthak has primarily been conceived as a trial and evaluation platform that can support the development and testing of future naval capabilities. The Ministry of Defence said the vessel is also designed for maritime surveillance and reconnaissance, offshore patrolling and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations.
L&T said the vessel was conceptualised, engineered and built in-house at its Warship Design Centre and shipyard at Kattupalli. The company said Samarthak can additionally support environmental protection operations and is equipped with a Dynamic Positioning System for precision control during complex marine manoeuvres.
Samarthak is the first vessel under a two-ship MPV project being executed by L&T for the Indian Navy. The Ministry of Defence and L&T Shipyard signed the contract for the two vessels on March 25, 2022, while Samarthak was launched at Kattupalli on October 14, 2024.
The vessels are 106 metres long and 16.8 metres wide and can achieve a maximum speed of 15 knots. The MPVs have been designed to tow ships, launch and recover different targets, operate uncrewed autonomous vehicles and serve as trial platforms for indigenous weapons and sensors under development.
A T Ramchandani, Senior Vice President and Head of L&T Precision Engineering & Systems, said the delivery reaffirmed the company’s shipbuilding capability to undertake construction of warships and reflected its commitment to national security.
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