Samarthak is the lead ship of the Indian Navy’s new Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV) class, built by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) at Kattupalli, Tamil Nadu. It is designed as a versatile support and trials platform rather than a conventional frontline warship.

Features

• Type: Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV)
• Lead ship: Samarthak
• Displacement: About 3,750 tonnes
• Builder: L&T
• Shipyard: Kattupalli Shipbuilding Facility, Tamil Nadu
• Primary role: Testing, training, logistics, unmanned-system operations and HADR
• Weapons/sensors: Can act as a testbed for indigenous radars, sonars, missiles and gun systems
• Training: Supports fleet gunnery and Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) training
• Unmanned systems: Can operate UAVs, USVs and UUVs
• Logistics: Heavy-lift cranes, winches and towing capability
• Environmental role: Oil-spill containment and recovery
• HADR: Medical facilities and cargo capacity for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief
• Strategic significance: Strengthens India’s indigenous defence ecosystem and provides a platform to test systems before their induction into frontline warships.