Why in News?
Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan commissioned INS Samarthak at the naval base in Karwar, Karnataka, on 16 October 2026. It is the Indian Navy’s first indigenous multi-purpose vessel built by a private shipyard, marking a significant step towards strengthening India’s domestic warship-building capabilities and defence self-reliance.
About INS Samarthak
- Builder: Larsen and Toubro (L&T).
- Shipyard: L&T’s Kattupalli shipyard in Tamil Nadu.
- Indigenous content: More than 75 per cent.
- Initiative: Built under the government’s Make in India initiative.
- Primary role: Supports multiple naval operations, including maritime surveillance, weapons trials and the deployment of unmanned systems.
Key Features
- Advanced dynamic positioning system: Enables the vessel to maintain its position at sea and launch and recover targets used during naval exercises.
- Trials platform: Facilitates the testing of indigenous weapons, sensors and emerging technologies.
- Unmanned systems support: Designed to support the deployment of unmanned systems for naval operations.
- Technology integration: Helps accelerate the integration of indigenously developed defence technologies into operational naval systems.
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