
Navy to commission first anti-submarine shallow water warship 'Arnala' on June 18
The Indian Navy is set to commission its first Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), named Arnala, at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam on June 18.Arnala is the first of the 16 vessels in the ASW-SWC class, designed and constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, in partnership with L&T Shipbuilders under a Public-Private Partnership model.The vessel was delivered to the Indian Navy on May 8, following oversight by the Directorate of Ship Production and the Warship Overseeing Teams located in Kolkata and Kattupalli.advertisementWHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT ARNALA?
Over 80 per cent of 'Arnala' content is indigenous, featuring systems integrated by leading Indian defence companies such as Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), L&T, Mahindra Defence, and MEIL. The construction process engaged more than 55 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), contributing to the domestic defence manufacturing ecosystem.Measuring 77 meters in length with a gross tonnage exceeding 14,90 tonnes, Arnala is the largest Indian Naval warship propelled by a Diesel Engine-Waterjet system. It is configured for a range of anti-submarine warfare operations, including subsurface surveillance, search and rescue, and low-intensity maritime missions.ABOUT THE NAME 'ARNALA'The warship is named after the historic Arnala Fort off Vasai, Maharashtra, reflecting India's rich maritime heritage.Built in 1737 by the Marathas, the fort was strategically located to monitor the Vaitarna River mouth and defend the northern Konkan coast. The ship's design reflects this heritage through its robust construction and advanced capabilities aimed at ensuring resilience and strength in maritime defense.SHIP'S CRESTadvertisementThe ship's crest features a stylised Auger Shell against a blue background, symbolising resilience, vigilance, and dominance in challenging environments.The Auger Shell, known for its spiralling, reinforced structure and precision tip, symbolises resilience, vigilance, survival, and dominance in challenging environments, which mirrors the essence of the ship, built to withstand the relentless forces of the ocean and undertake flawless anti-submarine operations with precise ordnance on target.
SHIP'S MOTTOThe ship's motto is inscribed beneath the crest in Devanagari, as 'Arnave Shauryam". This translates to 'Valour in the Ocean,' reflecting the vessel's operational ethos.The commissioning of Arnala will mark a transformative moment in the Indian Navy's coastal defence capabilities and supports the broader objective of self-reliance in maritime security within the Indian Ocean Region.
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