GRSE Delivers 'Arnala', India’s First Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC), to Indian Navy.
Science and Technology
In May 2025, Kolkata-based Defence PSU Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) delivered the first indigenously developed Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC), named ‘INS Arnala’, to the Indian Navy (IN) at the L&T Shipyard in Kattupalli, Tamil Nadu. This vessel is the first of eight ASW SWCs being built for the Navy under the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiative.
- INS Arnala is named after the island of Arnala, located off Vasai, Maharashtra, known for its historic fort. The name reflects India’s maritime heritage and strategic coastal significance.
- The vessel features nearly 88% indigenous content, showcasing a significant step toward self-reliance in defence manufacturing. It underscores the Indian Navy’s commitment to indigenization and aligns with the Government of India’s 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' vision.
Main Point :- (i) INS Arnala measures 77.6 metres in length and 10.5 metres in breadth, and is equipped with a Diesel Engine–Waterjet propulsion system, making it the largest Indian Naval warship with this configuration. The vessel is capable of full-scale sub-surface surveillance, as well as search and attack operations in coastal waters, enhancing the Indian Navy's anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
(ii) The warship has been indigenously designed and constructed in accordance with the Classification Rules of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS). Its development was carried out through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) and the L&T Shipyard—a unit of Larsen & Toubro, located at Kattupalli, Tamil Nadu.
(iii) INS Arnala will undertake underwater surveillance, search and rescue missions, and support Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO). These capabilities position it as a vital asset for enhancing coastal security and expanding the Indian Navy’s presence in shallow waters.
About Indian Navy (IN)
Chief of Naval Staff (CONS) : Admiral Dinesh Kumar (DK) Tripathi
Headquarters: New Delhi
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