India to commissions INS Arnala, first home-built shallow water ASW warship

Published on Authored by C to I News Desk

In a major milestone for India’s maritime defence capability, the Indian Navy is set to commission INS Arnala, the country’s first indigenously designed and built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft, at the Visakhapatnam dockyard under the Eastern Naval Command on Wednesday, June 18.

INS Arnala
INS Arnala. Photo courtesy: Screengrab

The warship, developed as part of a fleet of eight similar vessels, marks a significant step in strengthening the Navy’s coastal anti-submarine warfare operations.

INS Arnala has been constructed under a Public-Private Partnership between Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, and L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli.

The vessel was officially delivered to the Indian Navy on 8 May 2025 and has been designed in accordance with the Indian Register of Shipping’s classification rules.

The ship showcases more than 80 percent indigenous content, aligning with the government’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative aimed at self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

The Indian Navy highlighted the ship’s journey from blueprint to warship on social media, sharing visuals and details of the vessel’s development process. The commissioning of INS Arnala adds to the Navy’s growing focus on indigenisation and modernisation of its operational fleet.

Measuring 77 metres in length, INS Arnala is the largest Indian Naval warship to be powered by a Diesel Engine-Waterjet propulsion system.

It is equipped to carry out a range of missions including underwater surveillance, mine-laying, search and rescue operations, and Low Intensity Maritime Operations. Its primary role is to enhance anti-submarine warfare capabilities in shallow coastal waters.

The vessel is named after the historic Arnala Fort located off the coast of Vasai in Maharashtra, a nod to India’s maritime heritage.