New Delhi, May 9: In a significant boost to India's maritime defense capabilities, the Indian Navy on Thursday received ‘Arnala’, the first in a series of eight indigenously designed Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW-SWCs).
According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Arnala was officially delivered on May 8, 2025, at L&T Shipyard in Kattupalli. The vessel was designed and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with L&T Shipyard, showcasing a successful model of collaborative defense manufacturing.
Named after the historic Arnala Fort off the coast of Vasai, Maharashtra, the ship symbolizes India's rich maritime legacy. At 77 meters in length, Arnala is the largest Indian naval warship powered by a Diesel Engine-Waterjet propulsion system.
Designed for operations in coastal waters, Arnala is equipped for a range of missions including underwater surveillance, search and rescue, low-intensity maritime operations (LIMO), and anti-submarine warfare (ASW). It also possesses advanced mine-laying capabilities, significantly enhancing the Navy's shallow water ASW strength.
The Ministry noted that over 80% of the ship's components are indigenously sourced, marking a major step forward in the Indian Navy’s push for self-reliant defense production under the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' initiative.
