India, Oct. 14 -- The Indian Navy will commission Samarthak, its first Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV), at Naval Base Karwar on 16 October 2026, adding a platform designed to support unmanned and autonomous systems, maritime surveillance, and trials of indigenous naval weapons and sensors.

Built by Larsen and Toubro (L&T) under the government's Make in India initiative, Samarthak is the first of four MPVs planned for induction into the Navy. The vessel will conduct operational support and technology-evaluation missions.

One of Samarthak's major capabilities is serving as a mothership for unmanned and autonomous systems, providing the Navy with a platform to deploy and support them during maritime operations.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) ha...