INS Samarthak Commissioned: India's First Indigenous Multi-Purpose Vessel Joins the Navy at Karwar
The Indian Navy commissioned (formally brought into service) INS Samarthak, the first of two Multi-Purpose Vessels (MPVs), at the Karwar naval base in Karnataka on 16 October 2026. Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan presided over the ceremony.
The ship was designed and built by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) at its Kattupalli shipyard near Chennai, with more than 75% indigenous content. These are the first Indian Navy warships built at Kattupalli.
The Ministry of Defence signed the contract for two MPVs on 25 March 2022, at a cost of ₹887 crore, under the "Buy (Indian)" category. The second ship, Utkarsh, was launched in January 2025.
Samarthak displaces more than 3,750 tonnes and is 107 metres long. It was launched on 14 October 2024 and delivered on 27 August 2026.
Its main job is to work as a testing platform for Indian-made sensors and weapons. It can also launch and recover targets for gunnery and anti-submarine drills, tow ships, handle torpedoes, act as a mothership for unmanned systems, patrol the sea and give disaster relief with limited hospital-ship capability.
Project Seabird: The Karwar Naval Base
Project Seabird is the Indian Navy's plan to build a large, modern naval base at Karwar on the coast of northern Karnataka. The base built under it is called INS Kadamba, or Naval Base Karwar. It sits on the Arabian Sea in Uttara Kannada district, a short distance south of the Goa border. When all its phases are complete, it is expected to be one of the largest naval bases in Asia.
INS Samarthak was commissioned at Karwar, the home of Project Seabird. As the Navy adds new ships, bases like Karwar provide the berths, repair yards and support they need. A trials ship like Samarthak also helps the Navy run weapon and sensor tests in the Arabian Sea close to its biggest western base.
Defence Indigenisation: The Positive Indigenisation Lists
India wants its armed forces to buy more weapons and equipment made in India, instead of importing them. One key tool is the Positive Indigenisation List (PIL): a list of defence items that must be bought only from Indian makers after a set deadline. Once the deadline passes, importing that item is stopped. This promise of guaranteed orders gives Indian companies the confidence to invest in design and factories.
INS Samarthak is both a product of indigenisation and a tool for it. It was built in India by a private shipyard, and its main job is to test Indian-made sensors and weapons at sea, helping more items move off the import list.
- INS Samarthak commissioned: 16 October 2026, Karwar naval base, Karnataka
- Builder: Larsen & Toubro, Kattupalli shipyard (near Chennai)
- Contract: 25 March 2022, two MPVs, ₹887 crore, "Buy (Indian)" category
- Sister ship: Utkarsh (launched January 2025)
- Samarthak: launched 14 October 2024; delivered 27 August 2026; displacement over 3,750 tonnes; length 107 m
- Indigenous content: more than 75%
- Project Seabird: sanctioned 1985; INS Kadamba commissioned 31 May 2005; Phase IIA approved 2012 (32 ships and submarines, 23 yard craft)
- Positive Indigenisation Lists (DMA): five lists, 509 items (2020 to 2023)