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Indian Express
12 hours ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Navy inducts INS Arnala: What sets it apart from other warships
INS Arnala, the first of India's Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), was commissioned into the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy Wednesday at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam. The commissioning event marked the formal induction of the first of the sixteen ASW-SWC class ships into the Navy. The ship has been designed and constructed by M/s Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with M/s L&T Shipbuilders. The Navy had earlier said that the induction of the 16 ASW-SWC class of ships, starting with INS Arnala, will 'transform the Navy's anti-submarine warfare posture, strengthen coastal defence and solidify India's position as a capable and self-reliant maritime power in Indian Ocean Region.' Here is all about the new warship. The warship has been named after the historic Arnala Fort off Vasai in Maharashtra, is 77.6 m long, with a gross tonnage of over 1,490 tonnes, making it the largest Indian Naval warship to be propelled by a Diesel Engine-Waterjet combination. INS Arnala and the 15 other ASW-SWC class of ships to be inducted will replace the ageing Abhay-class corvettes. The warship was delivered to the Indian Navy on May 8 at M/s L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli. According to the Navy, the warship incorporates 80 per cent indigenous content and integrates advanced systems from leading Indian defence firms, including Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), L&T, Mahindra Defence, and MEIL. The project has engaged over 55 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), promoting domestic industry and generating related economic activity, the Navy had said. INS Arnala has been designed for a range of anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations, including conducting Subsurface Surveillance, Search and Rescue missions, and low-intensity maritime operations. The ship is capable of undertaking ASW operations in coastal waters and has advanced mine-laying capabilities, thus strengthening India's coastal defence. What sets the warship apart? INS Arnala is the first warship with a single rocket launcher on the centreline. Earlier warships had two rocket launchers, covering ahead to either side. This feature reduces costs due to lesser requirement of the sensor-to-weapon hardware. This also changes the weapon silhouette of the ship without affecting its operational effectiveness. INS Arnala has an improved ship design, making it more ergonomic in operations. How does it strengthen coastal defence? The ship will be able to detect and target miniature or midget submarines and smaller UUVs (Unmanned Underwater Vehicles) in coastal waters with depths of less than 30 metre. INS Arnala would be ideal for deployment against these targets. Heavier warships cannot manoeuvre as freely as Arnala-class warships in shallow waters. Other ASW-SWC class of ships to follow The Navy is set to induct 16 indigenously designed and built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft class of ships starting with INS Arnala. The Navy had said that these ships will be equipped with advanced underwater sensors such as the Hull-Mounted Sonar Abhay, Underwater Acoustic Communication System (UWACS) and Low-Frequency Variable Depth Sonar (LFVDS), making them capable of comprehensive underwater surveillance. They feature a state-of-the-art weapon suite, including lightweight torpedoes, ASW rockets, Anti-Torpedo decoys and mine-laying capabilities, the Navy said, adding that the integration of sensors and weapons into the Combat Management System (CMS) and an Integrated ASW Complex (IAC) further enhances their combat capabilities. The 16 ASW-SWCs would aid constant and effective protection of India's coastline and critical offshore assets from submarine threats, enabling the Navy to counter the growing subsurface threat in the Indian Ocean Region. Their capability of operating in shallow waters makes them ideal for tasks close to the shore, including patrolling, surveillance and humanitarian assistance.
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Business Standard
a day ago
- Business Standard
INS Arnala commissioned as India's first shallow-water ASW warship
The INS Arnala, an indigenously built anti-submarine warfare shallow-water craft (ASWSWC), was commissioned into the Indian Navy on Wednesday at a ceremony in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The first of 16 such warships, it is expected to boost the Navy's combat capabilities. It would also strengthen coastal defence and the country's position as a self-reliant maritime power in the Indian Ocean. Named after a coastal fort in Maharashtra, the Arnala, which was inducted into the Eastern Naval Command, is 77 metres long and has a gross tonnage of more than 1,490 tonnes. It will be the largest Indian Naval warship to be propelled by a diesel engine-waterjet combination. Other than warfighting — to detect, track and engage enemy submarines, particularly in coastal and shallow waters — the ASWSWC ship is designed for search and rescue. The Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, who presided over the ceremony, underscored the transition from a 'buyer's Navy' to a 'builder's Navy', according to an Indian Navy media statement. Indigenous warships increasingly feature cutting-edge home-grown systems, ranging from stealth technology to electronic warfare suites and sensors, it said. It added that these significantly enhance combat preparedness, progressively realising the vision of self-reliance. Constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (in Kolkata) and Cochin Shipyard Limited (in Kochi) — with more than 80 per cent indigenous components — this and the remaining 15 ASWSWC ships would replace the ageing Abhay-class corvettes. Over the past few years, the Navy has been building its capabilities to counter China's People's Liberation Army's (PLA's) growing presence in the region, including in the Indian Ocean.
