Indian Navy Inducts ‘Androth’, Second Indigenous ASW Shallow Water Craft Built by GRSE.

On 13 September 2025, the Indian Navy (IN) inducted “Androth”, the second of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) built by the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, West Bengal, strengthening India’s coastal defence and anti-submarine capabilities.

      - The warship derives its name from Androth Island in the Lakshadweep archipelago, reflecting India’s focus on protecting its maritime frontiers. Designed under Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) rules, the vessel supports anti-submarine warfare, mine-laying, and long-range coastal surveillance.

      - “Androth” is 77 metres long, 10.5 metres wide, with a 900-ton displacement, capable of reaching 25 knots (46 km/h). Operated by a crew of 57 personnel, it is among the largest Indian Naval ships powered by a diesel engine–waterjet combination, offering high manoeuvrability in shallow waters.

Main Point :-   (i) The vessel is armed with lightweight torpedoes, indigenous ASW rockets, a 76 mm main gun, and close-in weapon systems (CIWS) to tackle both surface and aerial threats, making it a potent addition to India’s naval arsenal.

      (ii) It is equipped with advanced shallow water SONAR systems for submarine detection and modern navigation and surveillance radars, boosting India’s maritime domain awareness in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

(iii) With over 80% indigenous content, “Androth” aligns with the Government of India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) vision. The 2019 Ministry of Defence (MoD) approval sanctioned 16 ASW-SWCs, with 8 built by GRSE and 8 by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) to replace the ageing Abhay-class corvettes.
About Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE)