Breaking News: Indian Navy Strengthens Anti-Submarine Capabilities with Commissioning of Locally Made INS Arnala Warship.

According to information published on June 18, 2025, INS Arnala, the Indian Navy’s first indigenously built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), was formally commissioned at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam. The commissioning ceremony was presided over by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and hosted by Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command, highlighting a significant milestone in India’s coastal defense strategy.
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The Indian Navy's new locally-built INS Arnala P-68 maritime patrol aircraft designed for coastal surveillance and anti-submarine operations. (Picture source: PRO_Vizag X account)

The new Indian Navy INS Arnala represents the beginning of a new class of 16 shallow-water ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) vessels designed to strengthen India’s ability to detect and neutralize underwater threats in its littoral zones. The vessel measures 77.6 meters in length, displaces around 1,490 tonnes, and features a diesel-engine water-jet propulsion system, making it the largest Indian warship to use this propulsion configuration. It is capable of achieving speeds of up to 25 knots and has an operational range of 1,800 nautical miles. Its arsenal includes RBU-6000 rocket launchers, lightweight torpedo launchers, mine-laying capability, a 30 mm naval gun with electro-optic fire control, and remotely operated 12.7 mm machine guns. Additionally, the ship is equipped with advanced hull-mounted and towed variable-depth sonar systems to ensure comprehensive sub-surface surveillance.

The construction of INS Arnala was executed under a public-private partnership between Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) and L&T Shipbuilders. The vessel was delivered to the Indian Navy on May 8, 2025. Notably, over 80 percent of the ship’s systems and components, including propulsion, combat management, sensors, and weaponry, are sourced from Indian manufacturers such as BEL, L&T, Mahindra Defence, and MEIL, with additional contributions from more than 55 micro, small, and medium enterprises.

The development of this capability traces back to efforts initiated in the early 2010s to replace the ageing Abhay-class corvettes, which were commissioned between 1989 and 1991. In December 2013, the Defence Acquisition Council approved the acquisition of new shallow-water ASW vessels. A formal request for proposal was issued in June 2014 under the Buy and Make India framework. Following a competitive bidding process, contracts were signed in April 2019 with GRSE and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), awarding each shipyard the construction of eight vessels. Each contract was valued at ₹6,311 crore, making the total program worth ₹12,622 crore.

Under the terms of the contract, the first vessel was to be delivered within 42 months of signing. INS Arnala’s keel was laid on August 6, 2021, and it was launched on December 20, 2022, at L&T’s Kattupalli shipyard. With eight vessels each being built by GRSE and CSL, the program is expected to be completed by 2028. GRSE-built ships, including INS Arnala, are designated under the Arnala-class, while CSL’s ships will carry the Mahe-class designation.

Named after the historic Arnala Fort located off the coast of Vasai in Maharashtra, INS Arnala not only revives a legacy of coastal maritime defense but also introduces a new generation of anti-submarine vessels tailored for India's shallow coastal waters. As the lead ship in this transformative program, INS Arnala marks a decisive step forward in enhancing India's maritime security posture and reinforces the strategic goals of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

With the induction of INS Arnala, the Indian Navy now possesses a powerful and purpose-built platform to counter modern submarine threats in coastal regions. This capability fills a crucial operational gap, strengthens undersea surveillance, and elevates India’s deterrence and rapid response posture in the Indian Ocean Region. It marks a new chapter in Indian naval warfare doctrine where indigenously developed technologies are seamlessly integrated into front-line operations, paving the way for a future-ready maritime force.