Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has delivered ‘Samarthak’, the Indian Navy’s first indigenous Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV), marking another milestone in the country’s drive towards self-reliant naval shipbuilding. The vessel was delivered on August 27, 2026, from L&T’s Kattupalli shipyard in Tamil Nadu.
With more than 75% indigenous content, Samarthak has been designed as a versatile platform for naval trials and evaluation. It will support the testing of weapons, sensors and other systems while also performing a range of operational missions.
The vessel is capable of maritime surveillance and reconnaissance, offshore patrolling and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations. Its multi-role design allows the Navy to deploy the platform for different missions rather than relying on specialised vessels for each task.
The Navy’s MPV programme also includes capabilities for towing ships, launching and recovering targets, operating unmanned systems and supporting weapons and sensor trials. The two-vessel contract with L&T was signed in March 2022 at a total cost of ₹887 crore under the Buy-Indian category.
Samarthak is the first of two Multi-Purpose Vessels being built by L&T for the Indian Navy. Its delivery strengthens the role of India’s private shipbuilding sector in naval programmes and supports the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.
The vessel’s induction is expected to enhance the Navy’s ability to conduct maritime surveillance, trials of indigenous naval technologies and support operations while contributing to the development of India’s domestic defence manufacturing ecosystem.