SAMARTHAK – THE FIRST INDIGENOUS MULTI-PURPOSE VESSEL
Why in News?
On August 27, 2026 Indian Navy officially took delivery of Samarthak, India’s first indigenously designed and built Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV), from Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Shipyard.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Type | Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV) / Auxiliary Support Vessel |
| Displacement | ~3,750 tonnes |
| Length | ~107 metres |
| Beam (Width) | ~18.6 metres |
| Maximum Speed | 15 knots |
| Operating Range | 4,500 nautical miles |
| Indigenous Content | Over 75% |
| Complement | 116 personnel (including 8 officers) |
| Sister Ship | Utkarsh (launched in January 2025; undergoing sea trials) |
Primary Operational Roles
- Weapon and Sensor Trials: Serves as a dedicated testbed platform for launching, towing, and evaluating next-generation indigenous weapons, radars, sonar systems, and decoys.
- Target Towing and Recovery: Capable of towing and recovering aerial, surface, and sub-surface targets for naval gunnery and Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) exercises.
- Maritime Surveillance and Patrol: Conducts coastal and offshore patrolling, Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) monitoring, and maritime domain reconnaissance.
- Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR): Configured to deliver emergency supplies, medical support, search-and-rescue (SAR), and logistical assistance during natural disasters in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
- Unmanned Platform Operations: Facilitates operations and testing of autonomous surface, underwater, and aerial unmanned systems.
Strategic Significance
- Push for Aatmanirbhar Bharat: Boasting more than 75% indigenous content, the project boosts domestic MSMEs, vendor ecosystems, and indigenous warship building.
- Private Sector Shipbuilding Integration: Validates private defence manufacturing through L&T’s end-to-end design and execution capabilities under the Make in India framework.
- Relief for Frontline Warships: By taking over non-combat support roles such as live-firing trials, target towing, and secondary patrol duties, it frees frontline destroyers and frigates for primary combat deployments.
- Indian Ocean Net Security Provider: Enhances India's capabilities in HADR operations and maritime domain awareness across critical sea lines of communication in the Indian Ocean.
