In a significant step towards self-reliance in defence, the Indian Navy has taken delivery of its third indigenous Survey Vessel (Large) ship, Ikshak, built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. The milestone delivery took place on August 14, a day before Independence Day, underscoring the nation’s push for an Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Ikshak is the first Survey Vessel (Large) to be delivered with accommodation for women officers and sailors. With a displacement of 3,400 tonnes and measuring 110 metres in length, the vessel is fitted with advanced hydrographic equipment including a Data Acquisition and Processing System, Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, Remotely Operated Vehicle, DGPS long-range positioning systems, and a digital side scan sonar. Powered by two diesel engines, the ship can achieve speeds exceeding 18 knots and boasts over 80% indigenous content by cost.
The ship will conduct full-scale coastal and deep-water hydrographic surveys, determine navigational channels and routes, and collect oceanographic and geophysical data for both defence and civil purposes.
This is the 102nd ship designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and constructed by an Indian shipyard under the supervision of the Warship Overseeing Team (Kolkata). The four-ship SVL project was contracted on October 30, 2018, with the first two vessels — INS Sandhayak and INS Nirdeshak — commissioned in February 2024 and December 2024, respectively.
The Ministry of Defence hailed the delivery as a testament to the collaborative efforts of the Navy, GRSE, MSMEs, and the wider Indian industry in strengthening the nation’s maritime capabilities in the Indian Ocean Region.