INS Arnala bolsters indigenous naval defence capability

Visakhapatnam
In a major boost to India’s maritime defence, the Indian Navy on Wednesday commissioned INS Arnala, the first in the series of Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam. The commissioning ceremony, attended by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, marked a significant stride towards indigenous naval capabilities under the Eastern Naval Command.

INS Arnala, named after the historic Arnala Fort near Vasai in Maharashtra, is designed to conduct a range of naval operations including sub-surface surveillance, interdiction, search and rescue missions, and low-intensity maritime operations. At 77 metres long and with a gross tonnage of over 1,490 tonnes, it is the largest Indian Naval warship propelled by a diesel engine-waterjet combination.

In his address, General Chauhan hailed the Indian Navy’s transition from a buyer’s navy to a builder’s navy, calling it the foundation of India’s growing Blue Water ambitions. The warship boasts over 80 percent indigenous content, integrating advanced systems from Bharat Electronics Limited, L&T, Mahindra Defence, and MEIL.

The event was hosted by Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command, and attended by senior naval officers, former commanding officers, and representatives from Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers and Larsen & Toubro Shipbuilding.

A Navy spokesperson said the ship’s design embodies resilience and strength, akin to the Arnala Fort’s historical legacy of withstanding external threats. The vessel’s commissioning not only reinforces India’s defence preparedness but also celebrates a milestone in indigenous warship development.

With a series of indigenous vessels including aircraft carriers, destroyers, and submarines under construction, India continues to cement its status as a maritime power with strategic depth and global reach.