The Indian Navy commissioned INS Ikshak, its third indigenously designed and built Survey Vessel (Large), marking yet another milestone in India’s pursuit of maritime self-reliance, on Thursday (November 6, 2025). The ceremonial event for the same was held at Naval Base, Kochi, with the commissioning presided over by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi.
Built by state-owned defence major Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) Kolkata, INS Ikshak is a shining example of India’s shipbuilding prowess under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. With over 80% indigenous content, the ship embodies the success of collaboration between GRSE and Indian MSMEs.
With this, INS Ikshak has also become the tenth naval platform commissioned in 2025, underscoring India’s growing capability to design, build, and deploy advanced warships and survey vessels through its domestic shipbuilding ecosystem.
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT INS IKSHAK
INS Ikshak commissioning: Why does it matter so much?
Commissioned at the Southern Naval Command, the vessel highlights India’s expanding hydrographic and ocean-mapping capabilities, vital for both defence and commercial maritime safety. It also marks a transformative leap in India’s hydrographic survey capacity, as INS Ikshak will play a crucial role in mapping India’s coastal waters, ports, and maritime approaches.
Equipped with a suite of advanced hydrographic and oceanographic sensors, INS Ikshak is one of the most capable survey vessels in the Indian Navy’s arsenal.
What did Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi emphasise?
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi described the induction of INS Ikshak as “a proud moment for the Navy and India’s shipbuilding enterprise.” He said the vessel symbolises India’s vision of Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) and its growing role as a “steady lighthouse” amid an era of global maritime uncertainty.
“When the global seas are rough, the world looks for a steady lighthouse. India is well poised to play that role with strength and stability,” Admiral Tripathi recalled, quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He noted that the Indian Navy today stands as a reliable force that builds partnerships, inspires confidence, and safeguards a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific. He underlined that the newest warship is a true operational embodiment of the vision of MAHASAGAR.
Why survey ship like Ikshak are important to the Navy?
As Admiral Tripathi highlighted in his speech, the Navy’s survey vessels perform a foundational role in maritime operations — making the seas “knowable, navigable, and safe.” In a time of increasing focus on seabed mapping for critical minerals and climate-driven changes, precise hydrographic data has become a strategic necessity.
“Survey ships like Ikshak that chart the unknown, so that others may navigate with confidence and clarity, are not just national assets – they are enablers of safety, connectivity, and maritime cooperation,” he noted.
Equipped with state-of-the-art hydrographic systems, advanced ocean-mapping tools, and digital data acquisition systems, INS Ikshak continues the legacy of her sister ships INS Sandhayak and INS Nirdeshak, both built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE).
Notably, Ikshak is the first SVL designed with dedicated women’s accommodation, underscoring the Navy’s commitment to inclusivity and modernisation. Its induction significantly augments India’s hydrographic survey capability and indigenous shipbuilding capacity.
How is INS Ikshak a reflection of India’s self-reliance in defence shipbuilding?
The Indian Navy has transformed from a Buyer’s Navy to a Builder’s Navy, with nearly 80% indigenous content in the ships being commissioned today, including Ikshak. “With every ship being commissioned, we are taking the vision of Atmanirbharta deeper to the component and sub-component level,” the naval chief underscored.
He also congratulated the CMD and team of GRSE for their “exemplary workmanship and commitment” that set “a new benchmark for excellence in Indian shipbuilding.”
INS Ikshak: What new capabilities, features does it offer?
INS Ikshak is fitted with a Networked Digital Data Acquisition and Processing System, ensuring full role-worthiness from the day of commissioning. Design upgrades have also been made to accommodate women officers and sailors, reflecting the Navy’s ongoing focus on inclusivity and crew welfare.
True to its Sanskrit name ‘Ikshak’, meaning ‘Guide’, the ship is designed to serve as a sentinel of precision and purpose. It will conduct full-scale coastal and deep-water hydrographic surveys of ports, harbours, and navigational channels — data that is vital for safe navigation, maritime trade, and naval operations.
- High-Resolution Multi-Beam Echo Sounder (MBES) for detailed seabed mapping.
- Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) and Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) for underwater reconnaissance.
- Four Survey Motor Boats (SMBs) for near-shore and shallow-water operations.
- A helicopter deck, enhancing its operational flexibility and enabling multi-domain missions such as aerial survey, logistics, and disaster response.
INS Ikshak’s induction reinforces India’s position as a preferred maritime security partner and first responder in the Indo-Pacific, strengthening its capacity to map, secure, and cooperate across critical oceanic zones. Admiral Tripathi concluded by reaffirming that every ship commissioned represents India’s growing maritime confidence, built on domestic innovation, technological excellence, and strategic foresight.