Charting a new course in indigenous hydrographic excellence, Indian Navy is set to commission third of four Survey Vessel (Large) ships – INS Ikshak – into service on Thursday, November 6, 2025. The commissioning ceremony will be held at Naval Base, Kochi, in the presence of Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff.
The commissioning would mark a transformative leap in India’s hydrographic survey capacity, making it a pivotal moment for the Navy’s Southern Command, where the ship will be based. The vessel will play a crucial role in mapping India’s coastal waters, ports, and maritime approaches.
INS Ikshak will strengthen both navigation safety and strategic maritime awareness.
INS Ikshak: What makes it a symbol of India’s self-reliance in shipbuilding?
Built by 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 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
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Its indigenous design and construction demonstrate India’s ability to develop advanced maritime assets domestically, significantly reducing dependence on foreign shipbuilders.
What is the role of INS Ikshak in India’s maritime strategy?
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.
By enhancing India’s capacity to produce accurate nautical charts and oceanographic data, INS Ikshak contributes directly to the nation’s Blue Economy, search and rescue infrastructure, and strategic maritime planning.
What Cutting-Edge Technologies Make INS Ikshak Stand Out?
INS Ikshak is equipped with a suite of advanced hydrographic and oceanographic sensors that make it one of the most capable survey vessels in the Indian Navy’s arsenal. INS Ikshak (Yard 3027) is the third of four Survey Vessel (Large) ships, 102nd ship steered by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau. It was delivered to the Indian Navy earlier this year on August 14, 2025.
The first ship of the class, INS Sandhayak was commissioned on February 3, 2024 and second ship, INS Nirdeshak, on December 18, 2024.
The ship will collect oceanographic and geophysical data for defence and civil applications. With a displacement of about 3400 tons and overall length of 110 meters, Ikshak is fitted with state-of-the art hydrographic equipment. Powered by two diesel engines, the ship can achieve speeds in excess of 18 knots.
Key systems include:
- 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.
Together, these features provide the Navy with unprecedented precision, speed, and range in hydrographic operations.
INS Ikshak and India’s maritime future?
With its commissioning, the Indian Navy achieves a significant milestone in its ongoing effort to modernise and expand its survey fleet. INS Ikshak will play a critical role in charting unexplored waters, supporting naval deployments, and ensuring maritime domain awareness across India’s vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
As a beacon of indigenous innovation, technological excellence, and maritime stewardship, INS Ikshak exemplifies India’s growing capability to build, operate, and sustain complex naval platforms, reinforcing the country’s emergence as a maritime power in the Indo-Pacific region.