GRSE delivers 1st ASW Shallow Water Craft ‘Arnala’ to Indian Navy

New Delhi: In a significant boost to India’s maritime defence capability, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd has delivered the first Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC), Arnala, to the Indian Navy. The delivery marks a major milestone under the Indian Navy’s initiative to strengthen its shallow water anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

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The ASW SWC Arnala is the first in a series of 16 such vessels being built for the Indian Navy — eight by GRSE and the remaining by another Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) shipyard. The vessel, delivered under a pioneering Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model between GRSE and L\&T’s Kattupalli facility, underscores the evolving collaborative ecosystem between India’s public and private sectors in defence manufacturing.

Named after the strategically significant Arnala island off the Maharashtra coast, the ship boasts nearly 88 percent indigenous content, reinforcing the Government of India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative in defence production.

Though smaller in size than the Kamorta-class ASW corvettes previously delivered by GRSE, the 77.6-metre-long and 10.5-metre-wide INS Arnala is designed for high-performance. Equipped for full-scale sub-surface surveillance, coordinated anti-submarine operations with aircraft, and armed with lightweight torpedoes and ASW rockets, the vessel combines agility with formidable capability. It features an advanced Combat Management System and accommodates 57 personnel, including seven officers.

A standout feature of INS Arnala is its shallow draught of 2.7 metres, enabling it to operate close to the coastlines to detect and neutralise enemy submarine threats. Its propulsion system — comprising three water jets powered by marine diesel engines — makes it highly maneuverable and suitable for rapid-response missions.

In 2022, GRSE was conferred with the Raksha Mantri’s Award for Excellence in Design for the Arnala-class vessel, recognised as one of the “most silent ships” — a critical attribute for anti-submarine operations.

GRSE is currently engaged in the construction of 16 more warships for the Indian Navy, including three Project 17A advanced stealth frigates, seven additional ASW SWCs, two Survey Vessels (Large), and four Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (NGOPVs). Additionally, the shipyard is building 24 other vessels, nine of which are export platforms, marking its growing presence in the global defence shipbuilding market.

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