Larsen & Toubro (L&T) launched its first Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV) for the Indian Navy, named INS Samarthak, at its Kattupalli Shipyard near Chennai. The vessel was officially launched by Ms Shashi Tripathi, President of the Navy Wives Welfare Association, in the presence of Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi. Several senior officials, including Vice Admiral B Sivakumar, Controller of Warship Production & Acquisition, Rear Admiral Sandeep Mehta, Assistant Controller of Warship Production & Acquisition, and Rear Admiral Ravi Kumar Dhingra, Flag Officer Commanding of the Tamil Nadu & Puducherry Naval Area, also attended the event.
The INS Samarthak is a highly specialised, multi-role platform designed to support the development and testing of next-generation weapons and sensors for the Indian Navy. It will also perform a variety of other functions, including maritime surveillance, patrolling, launching and recovering surface and aerial targets, providing humanitarian assistance, and combating sea pollution.
Measuring 107 meters in length, 18.6 meters in width, and with a displacement of over 3,750 tonnes, the vessel was designed and constructed in-house by L&T, under the ‘Make in India’ initiative and Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. AT Ramchandani, Senior Vice President & Head of L&T Precision Engineering & Systems, said, “The successful launch of the first MPV on schedule, notwithstanding geopolitical disruptions in supply chains, serves as a testament to L&T’s commitment to national security, our in-house warship design capabilities and exceptional execution prowess. We are committed to leveraging our strengths and innovative solutions to meet the Indian Navy’s aspirations, besides reaffirming our commitment to an ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ in defence manufacturing.”
In addition to building two MPVs, L&T’s Kattupalli Shipyard is currently constructing three Cadet Training Ships and six other defence vessels for the Indian Navy under a Public-Private-Partnership model. The yard is also involved in the repair of the US Naval Ship Charles Drew under a Master Ship Repair Agreement with the US Navy.