Commissioning of Yard 3034 'Ajay': Last Chapter in GRSE's ASW SWC Project
In a historic milestone for India's indigenous ship construction, the last of the series of Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC), Yard 3034 (Ajay), was formally launched on 21st July 2025 at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. The ceremony was attended by Vice Admiral Kiran Deshmukh, Chief of Materiel (COM), with Mrs. Priya Deshmukh performing the ceremonial launch as per the rich naval traditions of the Indian Navy.
This is the culmination of the ASW SWC project, and Ajay is the eighth and last vessel in the series. The senior Indian Navy dignitaries and GRSE graced the occasion of the launch, celebrating yet another step towards fortifying India's naval defence.
Earlier this year, the first ship of the class, INS Arnala, was commissioned to service on 18th June 2025, and the second ship is to be delivered by August 2025. ASW SWC ships are designed specifically for augmenting India's anti-submarine warfare, underwater surveillance, and mine-laying capability, particularly in coastal and shallow waters.
Ajay and her class are also fitted with state-of-the-art sonars such as a Hull Mounted Sonar and Low Frequency Variable Depth Sonar (LFVDS), which further help to boost their underwater detection and tracking abilities. Their powerful arsenal consists of new-generation torpedoes, anti-submarine rockets, a 30 mm Naval Surface Gun (NSG-30), and 12.7 mm Stabilised Remote-Controlled Guns (SRCG). They are driven by diesel engines and are propelled through waterjets, providing them with both speed and agility that are essential in littoral operations.
Ajay's launch is not simply a vessel splashing water—but a strong representation of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, as it has well over 80% indigenous content integrated into its design. From sensors and weapons to communication and electronic warfare capabilities, the vessel demonstrates India's increasing ability to create world-class naval vessels.
This success reaffirms the Indian Navy's determination to achieve self-reliance in key defence technologies while consolidating its maritime presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). GRSE's completion of the ASW SWC project is a landmark testimony to the country's vision for a safe, self-reliant, and technologically indigenous naval force.
Read more:
INS Nistar Commissioned as India’s First Indigenous Diving Vessel
Indian Navy Signs Agreement with BEL for NMDA Implementation
