GRSE launches in-house designed 1st of class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft

New Delhi: The Indian Navy's first Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASWSWC), being built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Limited has been launched by Ministry of Defence's Financial Advisor (Defence Services) Rasika Chaube on Tuesday. GRSE's Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Cmde PR Hari IN (Retd), GRSE's Head (L&T Shipbuilding) Cmde Ashok Khetan, Indian Navy's ACWP&A RAdm Sandeep Mehta, GRSE's Director (Finance) RK Dash, other senior officials of Indian Armed Forces, GRSE and L&T also witnessed the ceremony.

GRSE is building eight ASWSWCs for the Indian Navy, and these 'Silent Hunters' when delivered, shall be a potent force multiplier enhancing the Indian Navy's capability to detect enemy submarines in our coastal waters. These 77.6-metre long and 10.5-metre wide vessels propelled by three diesel-driven water jets will pack a punch as they will be capable of full-scale sub-surface surveillance of coastal waters as well as search and attack. These vessels are classed by IRCLASS.

GRSE has once again created a record by launching six vessels in eight months (May 22 – till date), including the prestigious 2nd P17A, two in-house designed Survey Vessels (Large), a Fast Patrol Vessel, an Ocean Going Passenger cum Cargo Ferry for Guyana & this 1st ASW Shallow Water Craft on Tuesday.

In true Naval tradition, the Ship was named 'Arnala' after her predecessor who was decommissioned way back in 1999. The 'Arnala' class ships were the erstwhile Soviet-origin 'Pettya' class ships of the Indian Navy ASW Corvettes. Chaube lauded GRSE's efforts towards achieving 90% indigenisation in shipbuilding and contributing to the government's mission of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat.' She acknowledged GRSE's contribution in enhancing the 'Anti-Submarine Warfare' capability of the Indian Navy by building such capable ships indigenously and especially the ASW- Shallow Water Crafts which have a unique distinction of being a first of the type being built in India. Chaube stressed on the need for the armed forces to be well equipped with the best and the latest technology and said that launching of Anti-Submarine Warfare vessel today is a step in this direction. She also congratulated GRSE on receiving the Honourable Raksha Mantri Award for this most silent ship being made for the Indian Navy.

In his address, Cmde Hari said, "today is a very unique occasion where the Chief Guest Rasika Chaube is also the lady who shall do the honours of naming the ship and launching the ship." Cmde Hari also stated that being the '1st of Class' to be launched today, in a series of eight ASWSWC ships, 'Arnala' is an example of 'Make in India' initiatives and when delivered, she will have nearly 88 percent indigenous content. These ships are testimony to the indigenous design capability of India, he said. Cmde Hari also congratulated all the stakeholders involved in this project including the Naval Headquarters and Production Partners for their continued support and timely decisions.

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