A mothership for drones, a testbed for weapons: What INS Samarthak brings to Indian Navy

The Indian Navy has commissioned INS Samarthak, a multi-purpose vessel, that will add to the capabilities of the force. (Image credit: Indian Navy)

The Indian Navy has commissioned INS Samarthak, a Multi-Purpose Vessel, at the Karwar naval base in Karnataka. Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, the Chief of the Naval Staff, commissioned the ship, which is the lead vessel of the Samarthak class.

The second vessel, the Utkarsh, is undergoing sea trials. The MPV is a specialised multi-role test and trials platform designed to enhance the Navy's future combat capabilities.Samarthak means supporter, a name that reflects the wide role planned for the ship. Beyond technology development, it will support maritime surveillance, patrolling, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and environmental protection.

Its crest shows an Indian elephant emerging from the waves, symbolising strength, intelligence and agility.The ship displaces 3,750 tonnes, is 106 metres long, has a beam of 16.8 metres and can reach a maximum speed of 15 knots (27 kmph). It features a Dynamic Positioning System, which lets it hold a precise position at sea during complex manoeuvres and specialised operations that the ship is expected to carry out.

The vessel can launch and recover surface and aerial targets for gunnery and anti-submarine warfare training. It can also deploy and operate autonomous, remote-controlled and unmanned surface and aerial vehicles. These capabilities will let the Navy use the ship as a dedicated platform for testing and evaluating weapons, sensors and other systems under development before they are considered for induction.INS Samarthak is also designed to serve as a mothership for unmanned and autonomous systems.

Its other intended roles include low-intensity maritime operations, towing support for other vessels, salvage operations and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. When required, the ship can be converted into a hospital vessel. That range gives the Navy a platform for technology trials as well as for operational and emergency-response tasks.Larsen and Toubro conceptualised, engineered and built the ship at its Warship Design Centre and shipbuilding facility at Kattupalli, about 40 km north of Chennai. More than 75 percent of the vessel's content is indigenous, in line with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. L&T has built two MPVs, INS Samarthak and the Utkarsh, under a Rs 887 crore contract signed with the Defence Ministry on March 25, 2022.