New Delhi [India]: India’s naval defence capabilities received a significant boost with the delivery of INS Arnala, the first in a series of eight indigenously designed Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW-SWC) to the Indian Navy, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on Thursday.
Designed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, and built under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli, INS Arnala was delivered on May 8, 2025. The delivery marks a key milestone in collaborative Indian defence manufacturing.
Named after the historic Arnala fort off the coast of Vasai, Maharashtra, the vessel is a tribute to India’s rich maritime heritage. Measuring 77 meters in length, INS Arnala is notably the largest Indian naval ship powered by a Diesel Engine-Waterjet propulsion system.
The ship has been specifically designed for underwater surveillance, search and rescue operations, Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO), and coastal Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW). It also possesses advanced mine-laying capabilities, enhancing the Navy’s versatility in near-shore defence missions.
According to the MoD, over 80% of the ship’s components are indigenous, aligning with the government’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) initiative and the Indian Navy’s push for domestic shipbuilding.
The induction of the ASW-SWC class will greatly enhance the Indian Navy’s capabilities in shallow water operations, a crucial domain in modern maritime security and anti-submarine warfare.