Karwar, Oct 16: A new, state-of-the-art asset has been added to the capabilities of the Indian Navy. ‘INS Samarthak’—an indigenously built, multi-purpose naval vessel capable of handling a wide range of responsibilities, from maritime surveillance and disaster relief to rescue operations and the testing of unmanned technologies—has been commissioned at the Karwar Naval Base.
The Honorable Vice President of India, C.P. Radhakrishnan, attended the event as the chief guest and dedicated the vessel to the nation.
The vessel was inducted into the Indian Navy in the presence of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Krishna Swaminathan; senior naval and defense officials; dignitaries from the Ministry of Defence; representatives from Larsen & Toubro (L&T); and representatives from the relevant Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).
‘INS Samarthak’ was designed and constructed by Larsen & Toubro (L&T). The induction of this vessel reflects India’s growing self-reliance in the defense manufacturing sector under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India) initiative. More than 70% of the vessel’s components and technology are indigenous, developed in collaboration with Indian defence organisations and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Measuring over 100 metres in length, the vessel has a displacement of approximately 5,000 tonnes and a range exceeding 7,200 nautical miles.
It is designed to support a variety of missions, including maritime surveillance and patrolling, low-intensity maritime operations, target deployment and testing, the operation of unmanned and autonomous systems, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), and salvage operations.
The vessel is equipped with a state-of-the-art Integrated Platform Management System and an automated Power Management System. These facilitate a high degree of automation and enable real-time monitoring of operations.
Naval officials stated that these capabilities will not only strengthen maritime security and reconnaissance efforts but also further expand the Indian Navy’s role as a trusted security partner.
The vessel’s crest features an image of an Indian elephant emerging from the sea. This symbolizes intelligence and strength. The motto of this ship is “Victory is our only goal.” Furthermore, its crew has been named ‘Prachanda Pundiks’.