India Commissions INS Arnala, First Indigenous Anti-Submarine Warfare Vessel

In a significant event at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam, the Indian Navy officially inducted INS Arnala, an indigenously designed and constructed Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC). Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan led the ceremony, with senior defense officials and naval commanders in attendance.
INS Arnala, named after the historic Arnala fort, is engineered to bolster India's capacity to detect and combat enemy submarines in shallow waters, enhancing maritime security along the nation's coastline. This induction marks a pivotal development in India's maritime defense capabilities and underscores its commitment to self-reliant defense production as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

Constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in collaboration with L&T Shipbuilders, INS Arnala is the first of 16 ASW-SWC vessels intended to replace the aging Abhay-class corvettes by 2026. Delivered to the Navy on May 8, 2025, the ship comprises over 80 percent indigenous materials and incorporates advanced technologies for underwater surveillance and anti-submarine warfare operations.
Featuring hull-mounted and towed low-frequency variable-depth sonar systems and driven by water-jet propulsion, INS Arnala is designed for rapid maneuverability and versatile missions, including joint operations with naval aircraft.

The introduction of INS Arnala highlights a successful collaboration between public and private sectors and showcases the growth of India's defense industrial capabilities. It also aligns with the Indian Navy’s strategic goal to enhance its presence and operational readiness in the Indo-Pacific region.