INS Arnala, the first of the Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC), was commissioned into the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy on 18 June 2025 at the Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam. The commissioning ceremony was presided over by General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff, and hosted by the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command. The event saw the presence of senior naval officers, ex-commanding officers of the erstwhile INS Arnala, and representatives from Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) and Larsen & Toubro Shipbuilding.
INS Arnala is a state-of-the-art 77-meter-long warship with a displacement of over 1,490 tonnes, making it the largest Indian naval vessel to be powered by a diesel engine-waterjet propulsion system. Designed for a wide spectrum of roles including anti-submarine warfare, sub-surface surveillance, interdiction, search and rescue missions, and low-intensity maritime operations, it significantly enhances India’s shallow water combat capabilities.
The vessel’s commissioning marks a major milestone in India’s journey towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing. General Chauhan praised the Navy’s shift from a “Buyer’s Navy” to a “Builder’s Navy,” reflecting India’s emergence as a global leader in indigenous shipbuilding. With a growing number of warships and auxiliaries under construction within the country, Indian shipyards are producing vessels equipped with cutting-edge home-grown technologies including stealth features, advanced sensors, and electronic warfare systems.
Named after the historic coastal fort off Maharashtra, INS Arnala exemplifies India’s strategic focus on strengthening naval power through indigenous innovation, industrial collaboration, and a clear vision for maritime self-reliance under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
