Indian Navy Commissions INS Arnala, First of 16 Indigenous Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft

Visakhapatnam: The Indian Navy commissioned its latest warship, INS Arnala, at a ceremony held at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam on June 18. The commissioning was attended by General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff, and senior naval officials.

INS Arnala is the first of 16 indigenously built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft, designed for a broad range of anti-submarine operations. The warship is equipped with state-of-the-art ASW weapons and sensor suites, enabling it to conduct sub-surface surveillance and interdiction, search and rescue missions, and low-intensity maritime operations.

The 77-meter-long warship has a gross tonnage of over 1490 tonnes and is propelled by a diesel engine-waterjet combination, making it the largest Indian Naval warship to use this technology. The commissioning of INS Arnala marks a significant milestone in India’s maritime journey towards greater self-reliance and highlights the triumph of indigenous design, engineering, and manufacturing.

CDS Praises Indian Navy’s Commitment to Indigenous Shipbuilding
In his address, General Anil Chauhan commended the Indian Navy for its commitment to transforming its strategic vision into tangible outcomes through the indigenous route. He highlighted the Navy’s remarkable transition from a “Buyer’s Navy” to a “Builder’s Navy”, which is the backbone of the country’s blue water aspirations.

The CDS emphasized that India’s indigenous warships now feature cutting-edge home-grown systems, ranging from stealth technology to electronic warfare suites and advanced sensors, significantly enhancing combat preparedness and realizing the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

The commissioning of INS Arnala is a step towards building naval capabilities to meet future challenges. The warship is named after the historic coastal fort off Maharashtra and stands as a proud symbol of national strength, industrial partnership, and naval excellence.

With the induction of INS Arnala, the Indian Navy continues to strengthen its defence capabilities, underscoring its commitment to protecting the nation’s maritime interests. The ship’s advanced capabilities and indigenous design make it a valuable asset to the Indian Navy’s fleet.