The Indian Navy is poised to commission its first Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), INS Arnala, on June 18, at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam. The commissioning will be presided over by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, in the presence of Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command, who will host the ceremony. The event will be attended by senior naval officials, shipbuilders, and distinguished guests.
The ship’s crest features a stylised Auger Shell, an emblem of resilience, vigilance, and dominance, encapsulating the ship’s readiness to operate effectively in the demanding maritime domain. The ship’s motto, “अर्णवे शौर्यम्” (Arnave Shauryam), meaning “Valour in the Ocean,” reflects the steadfast courage and strength of its crew. The name ‘Arnala’, inscribed in Devanagari script on a blue background, symbolizes India’s cultural heritage and maritime strength.
INS Arnala is the first of sixteen ASW-SWC class ships being inducted into the Indian Navy. It was designed and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, in collaboration with L&T Shipbuilders under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP). The project was overseen by the Directorate of Ship Production and monitored by Warship Overseeing Teams in Kolkata and Kattupalli. The ship was delivered to the Indian Navy on Sunday.
The warship is named after the historic Arnala Fort located off the coast of Vasai, Maharashtra, drawing a parallel between the fort’s enduring strength and the ship’s advanced capabilities. Like its namesake, the warship is built to face threats with resilience and strength.
Arnala integrates over 80 per cent indigenous content, reflecting India’s growing self-reliance in defence production. Advanced systems from Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), L&T, Mahindra Defence, and MEIL are part of its core systems. The project has involved over 55 MSMEs, boosting the domestic defence ecosystem and promoting economic activity across the sector.
The 77.6-meter-long warship has a gross tonnage of over 1490 tonnes and is the largest Indian naval ship powered by a Diesel Engine-Waterjet combination. It is designed for a wide range of ASW operations, including Subsurface Surveillance, Search and Rescue (SAR) missions, and Low-Intensity Maritime Operations.
The commissioning of INS Arnala marks a significant advancement in India’s naval capability, particularly in coastal defence and anti-submarine warfare. It underscores India's commitment to safeguarding its maritime interests in the strategically vital Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and reaffirms the success of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative in the defence sector. As India strengthens its naval preparedness with the induction of Arnala, it takes another step toward securing its maritime frontiers while bolstering indigenous shipbuilding capabilities.
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