- First of 16 indigenously built anti-submarine shallow water craft packed with state-of-the-art ASW weapons and sensor suite
- The Navy plans to induct seven more ships of the class, enhancing surveillance, deterrence, and warfighting capabilities in near-shore zones.
- Built by GRSE under a public-private partnership with L&T Kattupalli, INS Arnala is the lead ship in a series of eight ASW SWCs ordered by the Indian Navy
- The induction of INS Arnala, named after the historic coastal fort off Maharashtra, is a step in the direction of building naval capabilities in line with the force levels envisaged to meet the challenges of the future
NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, JUNE 18
The Indian Navy, on Wednesday, formally inducted INS Arnala, the first anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft (ASW SWC), in a commissioning ceremony held in the presence of General Anil Chauhan, the Chief of Defence Staff, at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam.
The ceremony was hosted by the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command and attended by senior naval officials, distinguished civilian dignitaries, ex- Commanding Officers of erstwhile Arnala, guests, and representatives from Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) and Larsen & Toubro Shipbuilding.
Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, who presided over the ceremony, hailed the platform as a “combat-worthy asset” that would significantly enhance the Navy’s capacity to detect and neutralise enemy submarines close to shore. He underlined that the ship’s high degree of manoeuvrability, shallow draught, and advanced combat systems make it a force multiplier in coastal surveillance and fleet operations.
Designed for full-spectrum anti-submarine warfare in coastal waters, the 77.6-metre-long, 320-tonne INS Arnala features a waterjet propulsion system powered by marine diesel engines, giving it superior agility and a shallow draught of just 2.7 metres. The ship is equipped with state-of-the-art sensors, Combat Management Systems, lightweight torpedoes, and ASW rockets, and can also undertake mine-laying and coordinated air-sea operations.
According to Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), the makers of the warship, INS Arnala is capable of full-scale sub-surface surveillance of coastal waters as well as search and attack, and can also carry out coordinated anti-submarine operations with aircraft.
Built by GRSE under a public-private partnership with L&T Kattupalli, INS Arnala is the lead ship in a series of eight ASW SWCs ordered by the Indian Navy.
The commissioning of INS Arnala not only reinforces India’s defence capability but also highlights the triumph of indigenous design, engineering, and manufacturing.
As India continues its maritime journey toward greater self-reliance, INS Arnala stands as a proud symbol of national strength, industrial partnership and naval excellence.
The Navy plans to induct seven more ships of the class, enhancing surveillance, deterrence, and warfighting capabilities in near-shore zones.
Indigenous warships now feature cutting-edge home-grown systems ranging from stealth technology to electronic warfare suites and advanced sensors significantly enhancing combat preparedness and progressively realising the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. The CDS commended the Indian Navy for the steadfast commitment to transforming strategic vision into tangible outcomes via the indigenous route.
The induction of INS Arnala, named after the historic coastal fort off Maharashtra, is a step in the direction of building naval capabilities in line with the force levels envisaged to meet the challenges of the future.
