On October 16, 2026, the Indian Navy unveiled the Samarthak at Naval Base Karwar, a ceremony attended by senior officers and local dignitaries. The vessel, built by a private shipbuilder under the Union government’s Make‑in‑India initiative, is the inaugural member of a quartet of Multi‑Purpose Vessels set to enter the fleet over the next decade.
The ship’s design prioritises maritime surveillance and patrol, but its modular architecture allows rapid conversion to low‑intensity maritime operations, unmanned system motherships, and even limited hospital facilities in disaster zones. Its integrated combat suite fuses indigenous sensors, weapons and electronic warfare systems, optimised for the challenging Indian Ocean environment.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in a statement, highlighted the vessel’s role in bolstering India’s strategic maritime reach and self‑reliance. He noted that the Make‑in‑India programme has already delivered three such ships, the latest being the INS Mangrol, commissioned on October 12 at Mumbai.
The commissioning of Samarthak signals a shift towards a more versatile and indigenous navy. Naval Chief Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan said the ship will soon be deployed along the western seaboard, conducting routine patrols and intelligence gathering missions.
Local residents of Karwar’s fishing community celebrated the launch, with one fisherman recalling how the navy’s presence has helped secure the coast against illegal fishing activities. The next phase will see Samarthak integrated into the Western Naval Command’s operational schedule, with plans to test its autonomous capabilities in the Arabian Sea.