INS Arnala to be Commissioned on June 18: India's First ASW-SWC Vessel to Join Navy Fleet
In a significant fillip to India's naval power, the Indian Navy is all set to commission its first Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), INS Arnala, on June 18, 2025. The vessel will be commissioned at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam. The event will be presided over by General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff, and commanded by Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command. The proceedings will see the presence of the top Navy officials, defence industry producers, and shipbuilding industry members who gave birth to Arnala.
A Leap Towards Indigenous Defence Production
Being the lead ship in a series of sixteen ASW-SWC ships, INS Arnala is a reflection of India's increasing prowess in conceiving and manufacturing advanced defence platforms indigenously. Designed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, and built under a Public-Private Partnership agreement with L&T Shipbuilders, the ship is a reflection of Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives in the defence arena.
Directed by the Directorate of Ship Production and overseen by Warship Overseeing Teams headquartered at Kolkata and Kattupalli, INS Arnala was commissioned into the Navy on May 8, 2025. Her journey from inception to delivery represents an epitome of smooth coordination between design authorities, naval management, and the private sector.
Heritage Meets High-Tech
The title 'Arnala' is taken from the ancient seacoast fort situated close to Vasai, Maharashtra, famous for its tactical significance in naval defence. Just as the fort was a sentry of the coast then, INS Arnala is constructed to protect India's shallow seas with an advanced anti-submarine warfare capability.
Equipped with sonar technology, observation instruments, and advanced warfare appliances, the ship continues a tradition of naval watchfulness as it is well-equipped for naval warfare in the future in shallow waters.
Designed in India, for India
A highlight of INS Arnala is the remarkable 80% indigenous content. It includes vital components from top Indian defence firms such as Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Mahindra Defence, MEIL, and L&T. In addition, the shipbuilding process involved more than 55 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), providing a strong boost to India's domestic manufacturing base and creating employment in the ecosystem.
The ship is not only a military resource—it is a model for collaborative defence innovation fueled by Indian technology and ability.
Compact Yet Capable
77.6 meters long and displacing over 1,490 tonnes, INS Arnala is sturdy yet agile. It is the biggest naval vessel in India to be outfitted with a Diesel Engine-Waterjet propulsion system, providing extremely agile performance in shallow waters as well as coastal areas, suitable for anti-submarine operations.
Its multi-mission capability enables it to carry out underwater surveillance, search-and-rescue operations, and low-level operations in near-shore environments where bigger warships are operationally constrained.
Augmenting Strategic Presence in the Indian Ocean
The induction of INS Arnala is timely, considering that the Indian Ocean Region remains a hotspot of maritime activity and strategic challenges. With this addition to its fleet, India solidifies its capability for surveillance and protection of its coastal areas while establishing itself as a maritime power in its own right.
INS Arnala will greatly bolster the Navy's capability to detect, deter, and neutralise submarines in the near-shore battlespace, thereby playing a critical role in India's emerging maritime strategy.
Future-Ready Fleet
The commissioning of INS Arnala marks the beginning of a broader effort to upgrade India's shallow water warfare capabilities. With 15 more vessels in the pipeline, the ASW-SWC project is set to significantly expand the Navy’s fleet, ensuring round-the-clock coastal defence and enhancing maritime domain awareness.
As this first ship takes its place in active service, it symbolises India’s relentless pursuit of technological advancement, operational readiness, and strategic self-reliance.
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