Indian Navy commissions first ASW shallow water craft

The Indian Navy has commissioned its first anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft (ASW SWC) at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam.

The commissioning ceremony for the ASW SWC INS Arnala, built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), took place today (June 18, 2025). It was delivered to the navy in March this year.

According to GRSE, the unit has the distinction of being the largest diesel engine-waterjet propelled warship to be inducted by the Indian Navy till now.

At 77.6 meters long and 10.5 meters wide, the ASW SWC is smaller than the Kamorta-class corvettes but highly capable. It is equipped for full-scale underwater surveillance in coastal waters and can carry out search and attack missions, including joint anti-submarine operations with aircraft.

The vessel features a combat management system and is armed with lightweight torpedoes and anti-submarine rockets. It has a crew of 57, including 7 officers.

Powered by marine diesel engines with three water jets, the ship is highly maneuverable and agile. Its shallow draught of just 2.7 meters allows it to operate close to shore, making it ideal for detecting and responding to underwater threats near the coast.

GRSE is building seven more ASW SWCs for the Indian Navy. Commissioning of this warship is expected to add a shot in the arm for the Indian Navy with respect to its shallow water ASW capabilities.

The ship was constructed through a PPP model, a first of its kind in India, where a major PSU shipyard like GRSE collaborated with a capable private shipyard, L&T Kattupalli.

The ship has been named after an island with a historic fort, off the Maharashtra Coast. It has over 80% indigenous content, underscoring GRSE’s commitment towards the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ policy.

In his address, General Anil Chauhan, PVSM, UYSM, Chief of Defense Staff, expressed confidence that the ship, equipped with ‘superior anti-submarine warfare and mine-laying capabilities’, would play a crucial role in safeguarding India’s vast coastline.

He noted that the carefully selected weapons and sensors would make the vessel ‘a highly potent platform and a force enabler for effective fleet operations’. As the first of its class, he remarked, its performance would set a benchmark for the subsequent ships in the series.