The Indian Navy launched the Indian Naval Ship (INS) “Arnala,” the first of eight indigenously built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) [Yard 3029], at shipbuilding facility of Larsen & Toubro (L&T) in Kattupalli, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
- It is built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd. (GRSE), Kolkata, West Bengal.
Significance: ‘INS Arnala’ (Yard 3029)
i.The ship’s name, “Arnala,” honours the strategic maritime significance that Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj bestowed on the island of Arnala, which is situated about 13 kilometres north of Vasai, Maharashtra.
ii.“INS Arnala” had its maiden contact with Bay of Bengal water during a launch ceremony presided over by Rasika Chaube, Financial Adviser (Defence Services) of the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
- Chaube launched the ship to the chanting of an Atharva Vedic invocation, in conformity with naval maritime tradition.
iii.The “Arnala” class of ships will replace the Indian Navy’s “Abhay” class ASW ships.
- These are designed to carry out low-intensity maritime operations (LIMO), such as underwater surveillance in littoral waters, and anti-submarine operations in coastal waters.
Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) Project
i.In April 2019, the MoD and GRSE, Kolkata, agreed to a deal for the construction of eight ASW-SWC ships.
- GRSE is building eight ASW-SWCs for the Indian Navy in accordance with the deal.
ii.Once completed, these ‘Silent Hunters’ will be a powerful force multiplier, improving the Indian Navy’s ability to identify hostile submarines in coastal waters.
- These ships are 77.6 metres long and 10.5 metres wide.
- They can travel 1800 nautical miles (NM) and have a maximum speed of 25 knots.
iii.The ships, propelled by three diesel-powered water jets, will be able to conduct full-scale subsurface surveillance of coastal seas as well as search and attack.
iv.The ASW SWC ships would have more than 80% indigenous content, ensuring that large-scale defence production is carried out by Indian manufacturing companies, generating employment and capabilities in India.
Recent Related News:
On November 26, 2022, ‘Ikshak’ the third of the four Survey Vessels (Large) (SVL) Project was launched at Kattupalli, Chennai (Tamil Nadu). It is being built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE) and Larsen and Toubro (L&T) for the Indian Navy.
About Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd. (GRSE):
GRSE is the premier Warship building Company in India, under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) – Commodore (Retd) PR Hari
Incorporation – 1976
Headquarters – Kolkata, West Bengal
