INS Samarthak: Indian Navy's First Indigenous Multipurpose Vessel

On October 16, 2026, Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan launched INS Samarthak, the Indian Navy's first indigenous multipurpose vessel, at Karwar in Karnataka.

Key Facts

INS Samarthak: The first indigenous multipurpose vessel of the Indian Navy, developed for testing and evaluating various naval equipment, weapons, and emerging technologies.
Indigenous Construction: Built with over 75% indigenous content, with major contributions from private defense major Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
Primary Objective: Provides a specialized floating platform for testing next-generation weapons, sensors, and new naval technologies in real sea conditions.
Operational Capabilities: Can be deployed for maritime surveillance, reconnaissance, offshore patrolling, target launching and recovery, and unmanned system operations.
Disaster Relief: Will serve in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions, strengthening the Navy's emergency response capabilities.
Strategic Importance of Karwar: Located in Uttar Kannada district, Karnataka, Karwar's deep natural harbor and proximity to the Arabian Sea make it vital to India's western maritime security.
Project Seabird: Modern naval infrastructure is being expanded at Karwar under this project to boost deployment, maintenance, and logistical support for warships and submarines.