Karwar, Karnataka: Vice President C P Radhakrishnan commissioned INS Samarthak into the Indian Navy at Karwar. The indigenous vessel strengthens the testing of advanced weapons, sensors, and unmanned systems.
India's growing shipbuilding capabilities and technological advances will strengthen the Navy's ability to respond to emerging maritime security challenges, Vice President CP Radhakrishnan said after the commissioning of the indigenous multi-purpose vessel INS Samarthak in Karwar, Karnataka. Built by Larsen and Toubro at its Kattupalli shipyard in Tamil Nadu, the vessel has more than 75 per cent indigenous content.
The Vice President said INS Samarthak would serve as a dedicated platform to test and evaluate next-generation weapons, sensors and emerging technologies, helping the Navy turn indigenous innovations into operational capabilities. He noted that maritime technology was changing rapidly, with autonomous systems, unmanned platforms, advanced sensors, artificial intelligence and connected operations transforming naval warfare and maritime security.
Officials stated that INS Samarthak would support maritime surveillance, offshore patrolling, the launch and recovery of targets, operations involving unmanned systems, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, besides meeting other emerging naval requirements. Radhakrishnan said the vessel's commissioning reflected India's growing confidence in its industrial, technological and shipbuilding capabilities, while praising Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan and naval personnel for maintaining operational readiness.
Highlighting the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean region, the Vice President said India's sea lanes carried a substantial share of its trade and energy supplies, making maritime security central to the country's economic growth, security and prosperity. He added that the Indian Navy had consistently served as a first responder and preferred security partner in the region through security operations, anti-piracy missions, evacuations, and disaster relief.
Radhakrishnan recalled India's maritime heritage, referencing the naval strength of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the historical achievements of the Chola dynasty. He also noted the Navy's progress since the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan and emphasized the strategic significance of Karwar's deep natural harbour and proximity to the Arabian Sea under Project Seabird.
Admiral Swaminathan described the commissioning as a significant step towards self-reliance, noting that Samarthak is the first major warship contracted to and constructed by a private shipyard to be commissioned into the Indian Navy. The induction provides the Navy with a crucial indigenous platform to advance its testing capabilities for modern warfare while bolstering routine patrol and relief operations.