News Desk: India’s maritime and naval capabilities received a significant boost with the delivery of INS Samarthak, the Indian Navy’s first indigenous Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV), built by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) at its Kattupalli shipyard near Chennai.
The vessel was formally delivered to the Navy on August 27, 2026, marking an important milestone in India’s drive towards self-reliance in defence shipbuilding. According to the Ministry of Defence, Samarthak has more than 75% indigenous content and has been designed as a versatile platform capable of supporting a wide range of naval missions.
Indian Navy gets new indigenous multi-purpose vessel – INS Samarthak
🔶 Built by L&T with over 75% indigenous content.
🔶 Designed for weapons & sensor trials, surveillance, patrolling and HADR.
🔶 Boost India’s Atmanirbhar shipbuilding capabilities. pic.twitter.com/cYISJ9JRyh
— Sputnik India (@Sputnik_India) September 2, 2026
A ship built for multiple missions
Unlike conventional warships designed primarily around a single combat role, Samarthak has been conceived as a trial, evaluation and multi-role support platform. Its principal task will be to assist the Navy in testing and evaluating emerging indigenous weapons, sensors and other technologies.
The vessel can also undertake maritime surveillance and reconnaissance, offshore patrolling and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions. Its wider capabilities include launching and recovering surface and aerial targets, supporting unmanned and remotely operated systems, towing other vessels and assisting in maritime operations.
L&T said the vessel is also equipped with a Dynamic Positioning System, allowing precise control during complex marine manoeuvres. The company described Samarthak as a specialised platform intended to strengthen the Navy’s future combat-development capabilities.
L&T Precision Engineering and Systems (PES) has marked a significant milestone in India’s defence capability enhancement with the delivery of INS Samarthak, the first-of-class multi-purpose vessel (MPV) built for the Indian Navy. The delivery of the MPV, from L&T’s Kattupalli… pic.twitter.com/MSyWqyaCN7
— Larsen & Toubro (@larsentoubro) September 1, 2026
First warship project for L&T
The delivery is particularly significant for L&T because Samarthak and its sister vessel Utkarsh represent the company’s first Indian Navy warship construction programme.
The Ministry of Defence signed the contract with L&T for two Multi-Purpose Vessels in March 2022. The two ships were subsequently constructed at the Kattupalli facility under the Navy’s MPV project.
Samarthak was launched in October 2024, with Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi present at the ceremony. The second vessel, Utkarsh, was launched in January 2025 and is undergoing testing and trials ahead of its delivery.
Boost to Aatmanirbhar Bharat
The vessel’s high indigenous content is one of the most important aspects of the project. The Defence Ministry has described Samarthak’s delivery as another milestone in the Navy’s indigenous shipbuilding journey and a reinforcement of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.
The project also demonstrates the growing role of India’s private defence industry in developing sophisticated naval platforms. L&T says its Kattupalli shipyard is currently constructing the second MPV along with three Cadet Training Ships for the Indian Navy.
More than a support vessel
Samarthak’s importance extends beyond its physical size or individual capabilities. Its ability to serve as a test platform for new weapons, sensors and unmanned systems gives the Navy greater flexibility to evaluate technologies before their induction into frontline combat platforms.
With maritime surveillance, offshore patrol, technology trials, unmanned-system operations and disaster-relief capabilities combined on a single platform, INS Samarthak is positioned as a technology enabler as much as a naval support vessel.
Its induction therefore represents another step in India’s broader effort to build a more capable, technologically independent and domestically supported maritime force.
