Indian Navy set to commission its first anti-submarine warfare shallow water vessel this month

The Indian Navy is set to commission its first Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), a special type of vessel, next month, Called ‘Arnala’, the shallow water vessel will be commissioned at Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, on June 18, according to a Ministry of Defence statement. The ceremony will be presided over by Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan. The event will mark the the formal induction of the first of sixteen ASW-SWC class ships into the Navy. 

Its scheduled commissioning will mark a transformative moment in the country’s naval capabilities.

What is Arnala vessel? 

Arnala is designed and constructed by Kolkata-headquartered Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) under a public-private partnership with L&T Shipbuilders. It is a 77 metres long warship with a gross tonnage recorded at more than 1,490 tonnes, making it the largest Indian Naval warship to be propelled by a diesel engine-water jet combine.
The project is in line with the central government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) drive aimed at boosting defence manufacturing.

Arnala was delivered to the Indian Navy on May 8, 2025.

The origin of the name Arnala and more…

Arnala is named after the historical Arnala Fort off Vasai in Maharashtra, situated about 13 kilometres north of Vasai. 

Constructed in 1737 by the Marathas under the leadership of Chimaji Appa, the fort was strategically positioned to oversee the Vaitarna River’s mouth, serving as a sentinel over the northern Konkan coast, the statement added. 

Much like the fort, which stood resiliently against various threats, the ship is designed to have a formidable presence at sea, according to an official statement. 

The vessel is made to withstand a vast range of maritime-related challenges, incorporating more than four-fifths of indigenous content. 

Arnala integrates advanced systems from leading defence firms such as Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Mahindra Defence and MEIL. 

Arnala capabilities

Designed for a range of ASW operations, the vessel is equipped to conduct subsurface surveillance, search and rescue missions, as well as low-intensity maritime operations.