The Indian Navy today commissioned INS Arnala, the first indigenously designed and built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), in a landmark ceremony held at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam. The event was presided over by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and attended by senior defense officials and naval commanders.
Named after the historic Arnala fort, the vessel is designed to enhance India’s ability to detect and neutralize enemy submarines in shallow waters, thereby strengthening maritime security along the coastline. The induction of INS Arnala marks a major advancement in India’s maritime defense capabilities and reaffirms its commitment to self-reliant defense manufacturing under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in partnership with L&T Shipbuilders, INS Arnala is the first in a series of 16 ASW-SWC vessels planned to replace the ageing Abhay-class corvettes by 2026. Delivered to the Navy on May 8, 2025, the ship features over 80 percent indigenous content and integrates cutting-edge technologies for subsurface surveillance and coordinated anti-submarine warfare operations.
Equipped with hull-mounted and towed low-frequency variable-depth sonar systems and powered by water-jet propulsion, INS Arnala is capable of rapid maneuverability and multi-dimensional missions, including coordinated operations with naval aircraft.
The commissioning of INS Arnala signifies a successful public-private collaboration and demonstrates India’s expanding defense industrial base. It also aligns with the Indian Navy’s strategic vision to strengthen its presence and readiness across the Indo-Pacific region.
