New Delhi: Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) Ltd achieved a major milestone on Monday with the launch of ‘Ajay’, the eighth and final ship in a series of Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW SWCs) being built for the Indian Navy, on Tuesday.
Symbolically named ‘Ajay’, the vessel revives a proud legacy—its predecessor INS Ajay was India’s first indigenously built warship, delivered by GRSE in 1961. The new ‘Ajay’ honours that legacy while reflecting the technological advancement and shipbuilding expertise that GRSE has since developed.
The ship has been formally launched by Priya Deshmukh, wife of Vice Admiral Kiran Deshmukh (AVSM, VSM), Chief of Materiel, Indian Navy, who graced the occasion as Chief Guest. The ceremony was attended by senior dignitaries, including Cmde PR Hari (IN Retd), Chairman and Managing Director, GRSE; Cdr Shantanu Bose (IN Retd), Director (Shipbuilding), GRSE; Shri Abhishek Ranjan, IOFS, Chief Vigilance Officer, GRSE; along with other senior officials from the Indian Navy and GRSE.
The launch comes just under nine months after the previous vessel in the series, ‘Abhay’, was launched—highlighting GRSE’s commitment to maintaining timely project schedules. The first ship in the series, INS Arnala, was commissioned into the Indian Navy in June 2025, and the second, Androth, has successfully completed sea trials and is ready for delivery.
The ASW SWCs are designed for a primary role of anti-submarine warfare in coastal waters. With a length of 77.6 metres and beam of 10.5 metres, these state-of-the-art warships are built for shallow water operations and can also conduct Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO), mine-laying, and coordinated missions with aircraft. The ships are equipped with advanced ASW systems including lightweight torpedoes, ASW rockets, 30 mm Close-in Weapon Systems, and 12.7 mm Stabilised Remote-Control Guns. Sophisticated sonar equipment such as Hull Mounted Sonar and Low-Frequency Variable Depth Sonar enhance their sub-surface surveillance capabilities.
Vice Admiral Kiran Deshmukh lauded GRSE's significant strides in defence shipbuilding, stating, “GRSE has progressed leaps and bounds and become one of the premier defence shipyards of the country. With more than 110 warships built, it holds the distinction of delivering the highest number of warships by any Indian shipyard.”
He added, “Commissioning of Arnala and the imminent delivery of the second vessel reaffirm GRSE's enduring partnership with the Indian Navy and its contribution to our vision of becoming a modern blue water Navy.”
Cmde PR Hari, CMD of GRSE, underlined the crucial phase ahead for the shipyard. “With 16 warships currently under construction for the Indian Navy and more orders in the pipeline, we are confident of delivering a century of warships to the Navy within the next decade,” he said.
Apart from the ASW SWC series, GRSE is also constructing Project 17A frigates, Survey Vessel (Large), Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (NGOPVs), and various other strategic platforms, underscoring its status as a versatile and key contributor to India’s defence preparedness.
The launch of ‘Ajay’ not only concludes a successful series of technologically advanced coastal defence vessels but also reinforces GRSE’s legacy as a cornerstone of indigenous naval shipbuilding.
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