 "What is INS Arnala that will guard India against submarine attacks?")
The Indian Navy on Wednesday (June 18) commissioned INS Arnala, India’s first Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam. The homegrown vessel derives its name from the historic Arnala fort off Vasai in Maharashtra.
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan presided over the commissioning ceremony in Andhra Pradesh’s port city. The naval warship will enhance the country’s coastal defence capabilities.
Here’s everything to know about INS Arnala.
India gets new naval warship
INS Arnala has a length of 77 metres and a displacement capacity of over 1,490 tonnes. It was designed and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, under a public-private partnership with Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
INS Arnala is the largest Indian naval vessel to be powered by a diesel engine-waterjet propulsion system, which increased speed and manoeuvrability in shallow waters.
The naval warship has been built for “underwater surveillance, search & rescue operations and Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO),” according to a statement by the Ministry of Defence.
#INSArnala - the pioneering Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft - proudly joins the #IndianNavy today, #18Jun 2025, at the Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam.
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) June 18, 2025
Gen Anil Chauhan, #CDS, presided over the commissioning ceremony.#AatmanirbharBharat @HQ_IDS_India @OfficialGRSE… https://t.co/bb2nNXh3TQ pic.twitter.com/XCplzw2vtE
Arnala is the first Indian naval warship designed and built by the shipbuilder, a shift from the usual practice of the Navy providing the design, as per ThePrint.
The vessel boasts over 80 per cent indigenous content, further reinforcing the government’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ vision.
The ASW-SWC integrates advanced systems from Indian defence majors such as Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), L&T, Mahindra Defence and MEIL.
Arnala will replace the Navy’s ageing Abhay-class corvettes. The naval warship is the first in a series of eight ASW SWCs being built by GRSE. The remaining eight ASW-SWC class vessels will be designed and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL).
A second vessel in the ASW-SWC series could be commissioned later in the year. Over time, the Navy will deploy all 16 such vessels to protect India’s 16 major ports.
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How INS Arnala boosts India’s defence
The commissioning of INS Arnala is a big milestone for the Indian Navy. The vessel will enhance India’s coastal defence , with the warship guarding against submarine attacks.
Besides its main role in anti-submarine warfare (ASW), Arnala possesses advanced underwater surveillance systems and mine-laying capabilities. It can carry out operations in shallow waters.
“Since there is a possibility of the adversary’s submarines being required to navigate littoral (coastal) zones with depths as shallow as 50 to 60 metres to achieve effective torpedo firing positions, Arnala is engineered to detect, track and engage such threats at stand-off ranges, mitigating risks to high-value surface assets operating in proximity,” sources in the Navy told ThePrint.
According to the news outlet, while frigates and destroyers also have ASW capabilities, they are primarily deployed for offensive operations, focusing on anti-air and anti-surface missions. On the other hand, the Arnala-class is built for defensive operations, particularly detecting submarines in coastal areas.
“The commissioning of Arnala will mark a transformative moment in India’s naval capabilities, strengthening coastal defence and reaffiliate India’s position as a self-reliant maritime power in the strategically vital Indian Ocean Region,” the defence ministry had said in a previous statement.
The ASW-SWC ships are equipped with advanced underwater sensors, Underwater Acoustic Communication System (UWACS) and Low-Frequency Variable Depth Sonar (LFVDS), as per India Today.
Arnala will have an indigenised version of the variable-depth sonar system, developed jointly by India’s CFF Fluid Control Ltd and Germany’s Atlas Elektronik. The commissioning of the naval warship comes amid India’s tensions with Pakistan.
“Given Pakistan’s limited inventory of modern surface combatants and the absence of dedicated ASW platforms, its naval strategy in a conflict scenario is expected to rely heavily on submarines. In this environment, the Arnala-class is positioned to play a critical role in securing India’s coastal waters, thereby allowing larger Indian naval assets to operate with greater operational flexibility in offensive or expeditionary roles,” Navy sources were quoted as saying by ThePrint.
With inputs from agencies
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