INS Samarthak, a 3,750-tonne multi-purpose platform built by Larsen & Toubro under Make in India, was commissioned at Karwar Naval Base on 16 October 2026 as the first of two vessels under a ₹887 crore contract.

The 107-metre ship carries layered defenses including a 76 mm gun, 30 mm cannons, Varunastra and Shyena torpedoes, RBU-6000 rocket launchers, electronic warfare systems, and a HAL Dhruv helicopter, while supporting Dynamic Positioning for precise operations.

Designed for weapons testing, unmanned-vehicle operations, training, low-intensity maritime security, towing, pollution response, and disaster relief, it and its sister ship INS Utkarsh expand the Navy’s indigenous support capabilities.

On the crest of the newest ship in the Indian Navy, an elephant climbs out of the sea. The image, chosen for its strength, intelligence and surprising agility, sums up what INS Samarthak is meant to be. Beneath it runs the motto “विजयार्थम एकनिष्ठता,” which translates as “Victory is Our Sole Aim.” On October 16, 2026, at the Karwar Naval Base, that pledge becomes official as the vessel is commissioned into service.

Samarthak is not a warship in the familiar sense. Most naval vessels are built for one or two combat jobs. This one is a multi-purpose platform, the first of two in its class, designed to do many things a fleet needs but rarely celebrates. If........

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