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INS Arnala, the first of India’s Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), was commissioned into the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy Wednesday at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam.
The commissioning event marked the formal induction of the first of the sixteen ASW-SWC class ships into the Navy.
The ship has been designed and constructed by M/s Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with M/s L&T Shipbuilders.
The Navy had earlier said that the induction of the 16 ASW-SWC class of ships, starting with INS Arnala, will “transform the Navy’s anti-submarine warfare posture, strengthen coastal defence and solidify India’s position as a capable and self-reliant maritime power in Indian Ocean Region.”
Here is all about the new warship.
The warship has been named after the historic Arnala Fort off Vasai in Maharashtra, is 77.6 m long, with a gross tonnage of over 1,490 tonnes, making it the largest Indian Naval warship to be propelled by a Diesel Engine-Waterjet combination.
INS Arnala and the 15 other ASW-SWC class of ships to be inducted will replace the ageing Abhay-class corvettes.
The warship was delivered to the Indian Navy on May 8 at M/s L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli.
According to the Navy, the warship incorporates 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 (MSMEs), promoting domestic industry and generating related economic activity, the Navy had said.
INS Arnala has been designed for a range of anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations, including conducting Subsurface Surveillance, Search and Rescue missions, and low-intensity maritime operations.
The ship is capable of undertaking ASW operations in coastal waters and has advanced mine-laying capabilities, thus strengthening India’s coastal defence.
What sets the warship apart?
INS Arnala is the first warship with a single rocket launcher on the centreline. Earlier warships had two rocket launchers, covering ahead to either side.
This feature reduces costs due to lesser requirement of the sensor-to-weapon hardware. This also changes the weapon silhouette of the ship without affecting its operational effectiveness.
INS Arnala has an improved ship design, making it more ergonomic in operations.
How does it strengthen coastal defence?
The ship will be able to detect and target miniature or midget submarines and smaller UUVs (Unmanned Underwater Vehicles) in coastal waters with depths of less than 30 metre. INS Arnala would be ideal for deployment against these targets.
Heavier warships cannot manoeuvre as freely as Arnala-class warships in shallow waters.
Other ASW-SWC class of ships to follow
The Navy is set to induct 16 indigenously designed and built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft class of ships starting with INS Arnala.
The Navy had said that these ships will be equipped with advanced underwater sensors such as the Hull-Mounted Sonar Abhay, Underwater Acoustic Communication System (UWACS) and Low-Frequency Variable Depth Sonar (LFVDS), making them capable of comprehensive underwater surveillance.
They feature a state-of-the-art weapon suite, including lightweight torpedoes, ASW rockets, Anti-Torpedo decoys and mine-laying capabilities, the Navy said, adding that the integration of sensors and weapons into the Combat Management System (CMS) and an Integrated ASW Complex (IAC) further enhances their combat capabilities.
The 16 ASW-SWCs would aid constant and effective protection of India’s coastline and critical offshore assets from submarine threats, enabling the Navy to counter the growing subsurface threat in the Indian Ocean Region. Their capability of operating in shallow waters makes them ideal for tasks close to the shore, including patrolling, surveillance and humanitarian assistance.
