Kolkata: In yet another achievement, showcasing the shipyard’s ability to build and deliver advanced warships, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd delivered the Ikshak to the Navy on Thursday, August 14, 2025.
‘Ikshak’ – the name stands for ‘Guide’ – is the third in a series of four Survey Vessels (Large) being built by GRSE. The second ship of this class, INS Nirdeshak, was delivered on October 8, 2024, while the first one – INS Sandhayak was handed over to the Navy on December 4, 2023.
This delivery comes less than a month after GRSE handed over the Advanced Guided Missile Frigate Himgiri to the Navy.
Ikshak (Yard 3027) is the 102nd ship steered by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and overseen by Warship Overseeing Team (Kolkata). The first ship of the class, INS Sandhayak was commissioned on February 3, 2024 and second ship, INS Nirdeshak on December 18, 2024. The contract for four Survey Vessel (Large) was signed on October 30, 2018.
Incidentally, the Sandhayak-class of Survey Vessels (Large), or SVLs, including the Ikshak, are also the largest such platforms to be built in India and operated by the Navy.
The Ikshak is the 802nd ship and the 113th warship to be built by GRSE. It is the 75th warship to be delivered to the Navy. No other shipyard in India has achieved this feat.
The relationship between GRSE and the Navy goes back 64 years to 1961 when the shipyard delivered the first indigenous warship INS Ajay. Since then, 74 more warships have been added to the list, helping the Navy advance from a ‘buyer’ to a ‘builder’. This is in keeping with the Government’s Aatmanirbharta policy.
With a displacement of about 3400 tons, the 110-metre-long Ikshak will join INS Sandhayak and INS Nirdeshak after being commissioned and keep the Navy supplied with vital survey data which is very crucial for operational purposes. The maps and charts prepared on the basis of this survey data are also used by commercial shipping. Powered by two diesel engines, the ship can achieve speeds in excess of 18 knots.
This prestigious warship was accepted on behalf of Indian Navy by Cmde Arvind Chari, CSO (Tech) (South).
With advanced equipment on board, the SVLs of this class are capable of full-scale coastal and deep-water hydrographic survey of port and harbour approaches as well as the determination of navigation channels and routes. In addition, these Sandhayak-class of SVLs can undertake surveys of maritime limits and collect oceanographic and geographical data for defence applications, adding muscle to India’s maritime capabilities.
These ships can each carry a helicopter, participate in low-intensity combat and function as hospital ships. They can also be used for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.
Propelled by two marine diesel engines combined with fixed-pitch propellers and fitted with bow and stern thrusters to help the ships manoeuvre at low speeds during surveys, they are ideally suited to carry out their designated operations.
Fully designed by GRSE to meet the requirements of the Indian Navy, Ikshak was built using ‘Integrated Construction’ technology. This was in compliance with applicable provisions and regulations of the Classification Society (IRS).
The keel of the ship was laid on August 6, 2021 and the ship was launched on November 26, 2022. The ship has undergone a comprehensive schedule of trials in harbour and at sea prior its delivery.
Ikshak has an indigenous content of over 80% by cost. The delivery of Ikshak is a reassurance on impetus of the Government of India and the Indian Navy towards ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’. The delivery of Ikshak is a tribute to the collaborative efforts of large number of stake holders, MSMEs and Indian Industry in enhancing the maritime prowess of the nation in the Indian Ocean Region.
Ikshak is also the first SVL Ship to be delivered with accommodation for women officers and sailors.
GRSE is now building 14 more warships for the Navy, including two P17A Advanced Guided Missile Frigates, one SVL, seven Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts and four Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels.
