INS Ikshak commissioning marks India’s growing hydrographic prowess

On November 5, 2025, the Indian Navy achieved another milestone in its indigenous shipbuilding journey with the commissioning of INS Ikshak, the third of four Survey Vessels (Large) under Project 17A-SVL, at the Naval Base in Kochi. Built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata, this 110-meter, 3,900-tonne hydrographic marvel represents more than just a vessel—it is a symbol of India’s growing maritime sovereignty, technological self-reliance, and inclusive modernization in an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific.

A New Era in Hydrographic Survey Capabilities

Hydrographic surveying is the backbone of safe and effective naval operations. Accurate seafloor mapping enables submarines to navigate silently, surface fleets to plan optimal routes, and amphibious forces to execute landings with precision. INS Ikshak, named after the Sanskrit word for “eye,” is equipped with state-of-the-art multibeam echo sounders, side-scan sonars, and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) capable of mapping depths up to 6,000 meters with centimeter-level accuracy.

The vessel’s dual-role design allows it to switch seamlessly between deep-sea surveys and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions. During cyclones or tsunamis, INS Ikshak can deploy medical teams, deliver 500 tonnes of relief material, and provide floating command centers—critical in archipelagic regions like the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Indigenous Design, Global Standards

Designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and constructed under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, INS Ikshak incorporates over 80% indigenous systems. From hull steel produced by SAIL to propulsion systems by GE India and navigation suites by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), every component reflects India’s maturing defence industrial base.

Unlike earlier survey ships reliant on foreign designs, the SVL class is entirely “Made in India.” The first two vessels—INS Sandhayak (commissioned February 2024) and INS Nirdeshak (commissioned June 2025)—have already begun operations in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea. INS Ikshak will now focus on the strategically vital Malacca Strait and South China Sea approaches, gathering real-time bathymetric data to update India’s naval charts.

Women at the Helm: A Progressive Leap

In a historic first for Indian survey vessels, INS Ikshak features dedicated women-specific accommodations, including separate cabins, sanitation facilities, and recreational areas. This aligns with the Navy’s Nari Shakti initiative, which has seen women officers command warships and fly fighter jets.

One of the women hydrographic officers assigned to INS Ikshak, stated: “This ship is not just a platform for mapping the ocean—it’s a platform for breaking barriers. We are proving that gender is no limit in mastering the seas.”

The inclusion of 20 women in the crew—10% of the total—sets a precedent for future large naval platforms, including aircraft carriers and destroyers.

Strategic Implications in the Indo-Pacific

The Indo-Pacific is witnessing unprecedented naval activity. Chinese research vessels disguised as fishing boats have been spotted conducting unauthorized surveys near India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Meanwhile, submarine incursions by regional powers have raised alarm bells in New Delhi.

INS Ikshak’s deployment will:

• Map critical chokepoints like the Six Degree Channel and Nine Degree Channel
• Support anti-submarine warfare (ASW) by identifying stealth corridors
• Enable real-time data sharing with QUAD partners (US, Japan, Australia) under the Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) framework
• Counter illegal fishing and seabed mining by non-state actors

Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, Chief of Naval Staff, emphasized during the commissioning: “In the age of gray-zone warfare, knowledge of the seabed is as critical as control of the surface. INS Ikshak gives us eyes beneath the waves.”

From Shipyard to Strategic Asset: The Road Ahead

With the fourth SVL, INS Samvidhak, slated for delivery in March 2026, India will possess the most advanced hydrographic fleet in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Future upgrades may include unmanned surface vessels (USVs) and satellite-linked buoys for persistent monitoring.

The commissioning of INS Ikshak is more than a ceremonial event—it is a declaration of intent. As India asserts its role as a net security provider in the Indo-Pacific, vessels like Ikshak ensure that every nautical mile of its maritime frontier is known, defended, and ready.

As the tricolor was hoisted aboard INS Ikshak under the Kochi sky, it marked not just the birth of a ship, but the maturing of a maritime nation—one that surveys, secures, and shapes its destiny on the high seas.