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Indian Navy Boosts Indigenous Fleet: Samarthak MPV, Mangrol ASW-SWC Commissioning in October
- •The Indian Navy is set to commission its first Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV) Samarthak and the Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) Mangrol in October, showcasing indigenous shipbuilding capabilities.
- •Samarthak, built by Larsen and Toubro, features over 75% domestic components and will serve as a trial platform for next-generation naval systems, as well as for maritime surveillance and disaster relief.
- •Mangrol will enhance the Navy's near-shore deterrence by tracking and neutralizing hostile submarines in coastal waters, addressing growing underwater threats.
- •These inductions are part of an aggressive expansion phase in domestic defence manufacturing, reducing reliance on foreign builds and delivering complex warfighting platforms on strict timelines.
- •The Navy has seen significant indigenous inductions in 2026, including INS Nipun, INS Anjadip, INS Taragiri, and a rare triple-commissioning of INS Dunagiri, INS Sanshodhak, and INS Agray.
Key Questions Answered
The Indian Navy is set to commission the first Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV), Samarthak, and the Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), Mangrol, in October. Built by Larsen and Toubro in Kattupalli, Samarthak features over 75 percent domestic components and will serve as a trial and evaluation platform, while Mangrol is designed to track and neutralise hostile submarines in coastal waters.
Built at the Larsen and Toubro shipyard in Kattupalli, Samarthak comprises over 75 percent indigenous content and serves as a versatile trial and evaluation platform for next-generation naval systems. Additionally, the vessel is engineered to conduct maritime surveillance and reconnaissance, offshore patrolling, and support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations across the Indian Ocean Region.
The Indian Navy executed a rare triple-commissioning on June 21, adding three vessels simultaneously to the active fleet: the stealth frigate INS Dunagiri, the large survey vessel INS Sanshodhak, and the shallow water craft INS Agray. This event marked a major milestone in the Navy's aggressive single-year expansion phase and domestic defence manufacturing modernisation.
