India’s first indigenous ASW warship, Arnala, to be commissioned today
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New Delhi: The Indian Navy is commissioning INS Arnala today, marking the induction of the country's first indigenously designed and built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) at the Visakhapatnam dockyard under the Eastern Naval Command.
The Spokesperson of the Indian Navy at Naval Headquarters & DPR, Ministry of Defence, shared a post on X, chronicling Arnala's transformation from blueprint to warship. Accompanying the post is a video that highlights the dedication and expertise behind its construction.
“India's first indigenously designed and built Anti Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft, is all set to be commissioned today, #18Jun 25. We bring to you the Journey of Arnala From Blueprint ... to A Warship,” the Navy wrote on X.
‘Arnala’, the first of the eight ASW SWCs (Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft), indigenously designed and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, was delivered to the Indian Navy on May 8 at M/s L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli.
According to a government press release, INS Arnala has been designed and built in accordance with the Classification Rules of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS). Developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) between GRSE and M/s L&T Shipyard, its construction highlights the success of collaborative defence manufacturing.
Named after the historic Arnala Fort off Vasai, Maharashtra, the warship pays tribute to India's rich maritime heritage.
At 77 metres in length, Arnala stands as the largest Indian naval warship propelled by a diesel engine-waterjet combination.
Designed for underwater surveillance, search and rescue operations, and Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO), the vessel is also equipped for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) in coastal waters and advanced mine-laying missions.
The induction of ASW SWC ships marks a significant boost to the Indian Navy’s shallow-water anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
"Arnala’s delivery is yet another milestone in the Indian Navy’s quest for indigenous shipbuilding and upholding the government’s vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ with over 80 per cent indigenous content," the release said.
(inputs from IANS)