Navy Commissions INS Samarthak at Karwar in Karnataka; L&T Built the Ship Near Chennai

The Indian Navy commissioned INS Samarthak at Naval Base Karwar in Karnataka on Friday, 16 October 2026, with Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan presiding. Several reports describe it as the first of four multi-purpose vessels being inducted into the Navy, while DD News describes a project of two and Wikipedia lists two vessels under its 2022 contract.

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) built the ship at its Kattupalli shipyard near Chennai. The reports describe a versatile platform designed for surveillance, patrols, trials, salvage and disaster relief.

From a 2022 Contract to a 2026 Commissioning

Wikipedia's class page dates the contract for the class to 25 March 2022 and gives its value as ₹887 crore, with L&T as the builder at Kattupalli. Wikipedia cites a Press Information Bureau release about the launch on 14 October 2024, and Open Magazine says the ship was launched in October 2024.

At the launch, DD News names Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, then Chief of Naval Staff, as the presiding official. The Navy said the collaboration with a private Indian shipyard was a testament to its strides towards self-reliance in maritime defence.

L&T's release, dated 1 September 2026, reports the delivery to the Navy. Open Magazine and Wikipedia both give 27 August 2026. Measured from 27 August, the commissioning followed delivery by about seven weeks.

What the Ship Is Listed to Do

Open Magazine lists maritime surveillance and patrolling, weapons testing and trials, operations with unmanned and autonomous systems, salvage, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. Punjab Kesari adds offshore patrolling and the testing and training of new indigenous sensors and weapons.

Deccan Chronicle lists low-intensity maritime operations, target deployment and trials, and use as a mothership for unmanned and autonomous systems. It also says the ship can function as a hospital ship when required, while Open Magazine and Wikipedia describe a limited hospital-ship capability.

Wikipedia says the class is capable of towing ships, is intended for launching and recovering torpedoes, and will act as a trial platform for naval weapons and sensors under development. L&T's release calls the ship a multi-role test and trials platform for combat capability development, and cites a dynamic positioning system for precise manoeuvring.

Indigenous Content and Dimensions Vary by Source

Reports put the ship's indigenous content at around 75 per cent or more. Deccan Chronicle and Open Magazine say more than 75 per cent, the L&T release and Wikipedia say over 75 per cent, and Punjab Kesari gives both around 75 per cent and over 75 per cent.

The dimensions differ. Deccan Chronicle gives a length above 100 metres and a displacement of about 5,000 tonnes. DD News gives a length of 106 metres and a width of 16.8 metres, and Wikipedia gives a length of 107 metres, a beam of 18.6 metres and a displacement of 3,750 tonnes.

L&T's release quotes A T Ramchandani, senior vice-president and head of its Precision Engineering & Systems unit, saying the delivery reaffirms the company's capability to build warships and its commitment to national security.

Deccan Chronicle places the commissioning at Naval Base Karwar, and Punjab Kesari names it Karwar Naval Base (Kadamaba Naval Base).

Reports put the ship's indigenous content at around 75 per cent or more.

The Ceremony, the Series and What Comes Next

Deccan Chronicle reports that the Vice-President linked the ship to India's progress in industry, technology and shipbuilding, and pointed to self-reliance in defence. Punjab Kesari quotes an official statement saying the Chief Guest underscored the strategic significance of indigenously built naval platforms in strengthening the country's maritime capabilities and enhancing the Indian Navy's ability to undertake an increasingly wide spectrum of operational and testing missions.

Deccan Chronicle names Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan among those present, along with Vice-Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, Karnataka's Labour Minister Santosh Lad and other senior officers. Commander Sushil Kumar Singh is named as the ship's commanding officer.

Deccan Chronicle, Open Magazine and Punjab Kesari describe the class as four ships, while DD News describes a series of two. Wikipedia lists two vessels planned under the 2022 contract. Its table gives INS Utkarsh as launched on 13 January 2025 and lists her status as sea trials. L&T's release, dated 1 September 2026, says the shipyard was building the second vessel of the class.