Indian Navy's shallow water anti-submarine warfare capabilities gets an upgrade as ‘Arnala’ warship joins force

In a major boost to the shallow water anti-submarine warfare capabilities of the Indian Navy, ‘Arnala’, the first of the eight ASW SWCs (anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft), indigenously designed and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Kolkata, was delivered to the Indian Navy at L&T Shipyard in Kattupalli.

The warship has been designed and constructed as per the Classification Rules of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) under a public-private partnership (PPP) of GRSE with M/s L&T Shipyard, showing the success of collaborative defence manufacturing.

Designed for underwater surveillance, search and rescue operations and low-intensity maritime operations, Arnala is named after the historic fort ‘Arnala’ located off Vasai, Maharashtra.

The 77m-long warship is the largest Indian Naval warship propelled by a diesel engine-waterjet combination.

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The ship is capable of undertaking ASW operations in coastal waters, along with advanced mine laying 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 defence ministry said.

Defence