The Indian Navy has commissioned INS Arnala, the first of 16 Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW-SWCs) at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
Named after a historic coastal fort located off the coast of Maharashtra, the vessel was designed and constructed locally by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in collaboration with L&T Shipyard through a public-private partnership.
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In April 2019, the Indian Ministry of Defence awarded contracts to GRSE and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) for the construction of eight ASW SWC ships each, as part of the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
INS Arnala is designed for a range of anti-submarine operations, including sub-surface surveillance, interdiction, search and rescue missions, and low-intensity maritime operations (LIMO).
Measuring 77 metres in length and with a gross tonnage exceeding 1,490 tonnes, it is claimed to be the largest Indian naval ship powered by a diesel engine-waterjet combination.
The vessel features home-grown systems, including stealth technology, electronic warfare capabilities, and advanced sensors, which improve combat readiness.
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By GlobalDataThe vessel has more than 80% indigenous content, marking an achievement in the Indian Navy’s pursuit of self-reliance in ship construction, aligning with the government’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative.
In a statement, the Indian Ministry of Defence said: “The commissioning of INS Arnala not only reinforces India’s defence capability but also highlights the triumph of indigenous design, engineering, and manufacturing.”
Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), a Maharatna company, has supplied all special steel required for the construction of INS Arnala and the other seven ASW-SWC corvettes being built by GRSE.
SAIL has previously supplied special steel for projects such as INS Vikrant, INS Vindyagiri, INS Nilgiri, and INS Surat.
In January 2025, the Indian Navy commissioned two new warships and a submarine in Mumbai, Maharashtra, enhancing the country’s naval capabilities.
The new additions include the Project 15B class destroyer INS Surat, the Project 17A stealth frigate INS Nilgiri, and the P75 Kalvari-class submarine INS Vaghsheer.
