L&T-built INS Samarthak inducted into Indian Navy

Why in the News

The Indian Navy now has a dedicated, privately built multi-purpose vessel (MPV) on which sensors and weapons made by Indian industry can be tested before they reach warships. INS Samarthak, the first of two MPVs being built by Larsen & Toubro (L&T), was commissioned at Karwar in the presence of the Vice-President and the Chief of the Naval Staff.

What is a multi-purpose vessel, and what will INS Samarthak do?

1. What it is: An MPV is a support ship designed for many tasks rather than frontline combat. Like a test track for new cars, it lets the Navy try out new equipment at sea before fitting it on warships.
2. Why it was built: The ship will support the testing, trials and evaluation of sensors and weapons made by Indian industry. This lets the Navy validate indigenous technologies, meaning confirm they work, before using them widely.
3. Other roles: Besides trials and training, it can carry out:
   • maritime surveillance and reconnaissance;
   • offshore patrolling;
   • disaster relief operations.
4. Meaning of the name: Samarthak means ‘the proponent’, matching its job of backing new Indian systems.
5. The takeaway: Indian made sensors and weapons now have a ship on which to prove themselves at sea before they reach frontline warships.

What has changed in how the Navy’s ships are built?

1. Private sector role: The Navy calls the ship a milestone in indigenous shipbuilding that highlights the private sector’s growing role. Naval shipbuilding has long been led by public sector yards such as Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers.
2. Indigenous content: Over 75% of the vessel’s content is indigenous, in line with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self reliant India) push in defence production.
3. Procurement route: The Ministry of Defence contracted L&T in 2022 to build both MPVs under the Buy (Indian) category of defence procurement, which reserves the order for Indian vendors.

Why does a versatile ship matter for maritime security?

1. Changing threats: The Navy says a ship that can do many jobs suits today’s seas. Old military threats now come alongside non-traditional threats such as piracy, smuggling and natural disasters.
2. Karwar base: Karwar, on the Karnataka coast, hosts INS Kadamba, the naval base being expanded under Project Seabird.

Challenges

1. Imported critical systems: High indigenous content by value can still leave engines and key systems foreign sourced. Eg. INS Vikrant runs on imported GE LM2500 gas turbines.
2. Delivery delays: Indian warship and submarine projects often run late, which raises costs. Eg. The Project 75 Scorpene submarines.
3. Uncertain private orders: Private yards lose skilled workers and leave facilities idle when naval orders do not arrive steadily.
4. Limited test capacity: Two vessels must serve trials for a widening range of sensors and weapons from Indian industry.

Way Forward

1. Indigenise propulsion: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and industry should prioritise marine engines and propulsion, which warships still largely import.
2. Assured order pipeline: The Ministry of Defence should give private yards long term naval orders, not one off contracts.
3. Open the test platform: Let startups trial their sensors on the MPVs through Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), the defence ministry’s startup challenge scheme.
4. Second vessel on time: Deliver the second MPV on schedule to widen testing capacity.

Conclusion

A privately built ship now gives the Navy a platform to prove Indian sensors and weapons at sea before frontline service. Whether the second vessel arrives on time, and whether private yards win more naval orders, will show if the private sector’s role keeps growing.

Matching Previous Year Question

“[2024] Which of the following is/are correctly matched in terms of equivalent rank in the three services of Indian Defence forces? Army : Airforce : Navy 1. Brigadier : Air Commodore : Commander 2. Major General : Air Vice Marshal : Vice Admiral 3. Major : Squadron Leader : Lieutenant Commander 4. Lieutenant Colonel : Group Captain : Captain Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1 and 4 (b) 1 and 3 (c) 2,3,and 4 (d) 3 only* ANSWER: (d)”