Indian Navy inducts first anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft Arnala

Mumbai: A state-of-the-art anti-submarine warfare platform INS Arnala - which has been named after the historic fort in the Palghar district of Maharashtra was commissioned on Wednesday.

INS Arnala was built by Kolkata-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE), is the first Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) of the Indian Navy.

The ship, named after an island with a historic fort, off the Vasai-Virar coast in Palghar district in the coastal Konkan belt of Maharashtra , has nearly 88% indigenous content, underscoring GRSE’s commitment towards the Government of India’s Atma Nirbhar policy.

The commissioning of INS Arnala not only reinforces India’s defence capability but also highlights the triumph of indigenous design, engineering, and manufacturing.

As India continues its maritime journey toward greater self-reliance, INS Arnala stands as a proud symbol of national strength, industrial partnership and naval excellence.

India's Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, who was the chief guest of the commissioning ceremony underscored the Indian Navy’s remarkable transition from a "Buyer's Navy" to a "Builder's Navy", highlighting this as the backbone of the country’s Blue Water aspirations.

Designed for a broad range of Anti-Submarine operations, INS Arnala is equipped to conduct Sub-Surface Surveillance and Interdiction, Search and Rescue Missions; and Low-Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO). This 77-meter-long warship, with a gross tonnage of over 1490 tonnes, is the largest Indian Naval warship to be propelled by a Diesel Engine-Waterjet combination. A state-of-the-art anti-submarine warfare platform INS Arnala - which has been named after the historic fort in the Palghar district of Maharashtra was commissioned on Wednesday.

Arnala Fort is also known as ‘Janjire Arnala’. The Arnala Fort was captured by many empires such as Mughals, Marathas, Portuguese, and lastly Peshwas. The sultan Mahmud Begda originally constructed the fort in 1516. There is no source of food but water is available in the well on the fort.

Designed for a broad range of Anti-Submarine operations, INS Arnala is equipped to conduct Sub-Surface Surveillance and Interdiction, Search and Rescue Missions; and Low-Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO). This 77-meter-long warship, with a gross tonnage of over 1490 tonnes, is the largest Indian Naval warship to be propelled by a Diesel Engine-Waterjet combination.