The Indian Navy is all set to commission the first of sixteen Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), ‘Arnala’, at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam, on June 28.
Arnala was delivered to the Indian Navy on May 8, after it was produced jointly by M/s Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) and L&T Shipbuilders.
The development of ASW-SWC was done under the guidance of the Directorate of Ship Production and the oversight of the Warship Overseeing Teams at Kolkata facility of the State-owned GRSE and in Kattupalli of the L&T Shipbuilders, said the Ministry of Defence in a statement.
The ceremony will be presided over by Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan and hosted by Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command.
Named after the historic Arnala Fort off Vasai, Maharashtra, the warship reflects India’s rich maritime heritage.
Much like the fort, which stood resiliently against various threats, the ship is designed to have a formidable presence at sea, the MoD observed.
Robust construction
Its robust construction and advanced capabilities ensure that it can withstand the challenges of the maritime domain, safeguarding India’s waters from emerging threats.
The warship incorporates more than 80 per cent indigenous content and integrates advanced systems from leading Indian defence firms, including Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), L&T, Mahindra Defence, and MEIL.
The project has engaged over 55 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises , promoting domestic industry and generating related economic activity.
Designed for a range of ASW operations, Arnala is equipped to conduct Subsurface Surveillance, Search and Rescue missions, and Low-Intensity Maritime Operations.
This 77.6 m long warship, with a gross tonnage of over 1,490 tonnes, is the largest Indian Naval warship to be propelled by a Diesel Engine-Waterjet combination.