Indian Navy To Commission Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft INS Arnala On June 18

The Indian Navy will commission its first of sixteen Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow-Water Craft (ASW-SWC) Arnala on June 18 at the Naval Dockyard at Vishakhapatnam. The warships are being built at an overall cost of Rs.12,622 crore by Kolkata-based defence shipyard Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in collaboration with L&T Shipbuilders.

INS Arnala

The 77.6 metre-long craft with over 1490 gross tonnes of displacement is the largest Indian warship to be propelled by a diesel engine-waterjet combination. The craft is named after the Arnala Fort In Vasai, Maharashtra to reflect India’s rich maritime heritage and will be inducted in the presence of Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan. 

The Navy released a statement stating that "Much like the fort, which stood resiliently against various threats, the ship is designed to have a formidable presence at sea. Its robust construction and advanced capabilities ensure that it can withstand the challenges of the maritime domain, safeguarding India's waters from emerging threats.”

It comes with the ability to conduct subsurface surveillance, search and rescue missions, and low-intensity maritime operations. 

A navy-spokesperson asserted that, "The warship incorporates more than 80 per cent indigenous content and integrates advanced systems from leading Indian defence firms, including Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), L&T, Mahindra Defence, and MEIL,” according to PTI.”

The spokesperson also stated that the warship will provide an impetus to India’s naval capabilities and bolster India’s position as a self-reliant maritime power in the Indian ocean. 

The ceremony will be hosted by Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, and attended by senior naval officials, distinguished guests, and representatives from the shipbuilders and various other agencies involved in the construction.