Latest news with #INSArnala
India Today
2 days ago
- General
- India Today
How INS Arnala bolsters India's coastal defence
On a sun-drenched Wednesday on June 18, the Indian Navy welcomed a new guardian of its shores: the INS Arnala, the first of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) commissioned into its fleet at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam. Built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata, this sleek, stealthy vessel marks a bold stride in India's journey toward self-reliance in defence. As the largest Indian Navy ship of its kind, powered by a diesel-waterjet propulsion system and boasting a shallow 2.7-metre draft, Arnala is designed to glide silently through coastal waters, a formidable predator in the hunt for subsurface Indian Navy is pursuing an ambitious modernisation and expansion plan, aiming to become a 175-warship force by 2035, with 96 vessels and submarines slated for induction over the next decade. It is transitioning to a blue-water force, driven by regional rivalry with China's PLAN (People's Liberation Army Navy) and the need to secure vital waterways like the Strait of commissioning of Arnala comes amid growing undersea activity in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), including the increasing presence of Chinese and Pakistani submarines. This underscores why such shallow-water craft are essential—not just for wartime readiness, but also for peacetime deterrence, surveillance and shaping of the maritime after a historic Maratha fort perched 13 kilometres north of Vasai, Maharashtra, Arnala carries forward a legacy of resilience. Built in 1737 under the leadership of Chimaji Appa, the fort once stood watch over the Vaitarna river's mouth, guarding the northern Konkan coast against invaders. Today, its namesake ship mirrors that steadfast spirit, its armoured hull echoing the fort's enduring stone walls and its cutting-edge weaponry replacing the cannons of yore. The ship's crest tells its own story: a stylised auger shell, spiralled and resilient, set against a deep blue backdrop. Known for its reinforced structure and precision tip, the shell symbolises vigilance, survival and dominance in hostile environments—qualities that define Arnala's mission. Beneath the crest, a ribbon unfurls, bearing the motto 'Arnave Shauryam' (Valour in the Ocean) in elegant Devanagari script. This inscription is more than a slogan; it's a call to the crew to embody courage and strength in the face of the ocean's relentless over 80 per cent indigenous content, the ship integrates advanced systems from Indian industry leaders like Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), L&T, Mahindra Defence and MEIL, while engaging over 55 micro, small and medium enterprises. This collaborative effort not only bolsters India's domestic defence industry but also reduces reliance on foreign suppliers, ensuring strategic autonomy and seamless under a Public-Private Partnership between GRSE and L&T Shipbuilders, Arnala is the first of 16 ASW SWCs that will replace the ageing Abhay-class corvettes, originally built in the former Soviet Union. Eight of these ships will be built by GRSE, with the remaining eight crafted by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL). Together, they promise to transform the navy's anti-submarine warfare capabilities, fortifying India's coastal defences and cementing its role as a maritime power in the 77 metres long and with a gross tonnage of over 1,490 tonnes, Arnala is designed to detect, track and neutralise enemy submarines in the shallow waters close to India's 7,500-kilometre coastline. These ships, equipped with an advanced anti-submarine warfare suite, carry lightweight torpedoes, ASW rockets and mines, making them formidable coastal defence assets. Armed with a 30 mm Close-in Weapon System (CIWS) and 12.7 mm stabilised remote-control guns, they ensure robust protection against aerial and surface threats. Fitted with hull-mounted sonar and low-frequency variable depth sonar, they offer comprehensive underwater surveillance, enhancing detection and engagement in anti-submarine with state-of-the-art underwater sensors—including the Hull-Mounted Sonar Abhay, Underwater Acoustic Communication System (UWACS) and Low-Frequency Variable Depth Sonar (LFVDS)—the ship offers unparalleled subsurface surveillance. Its arsenal is equally impressive, featuring lightweight torpedoes, ASW rockets, anti-torpedo decoys and advanced mine-laying capabilities, all integrated into a Combat Management System (CMS) and an Integrated Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Complex (IAC).Beyond combat, Arnala is versatile, capable of conducting search-and-rescue missions, patrolling, surveillance and humanitarian assistance. Its shallow draft and agile propulsion system make it ideal for operations near the shore, where larger vessels falter. Naval officers say the commissioning of Arnala is a signal to the world that India is a force to be reckoned with. By building complex warships with indigenous technology, India is progressively reducing its dependence on foreign arms and strengthening its strategic position on the global stage. The ASW SWC project showcases the nation's design and manufacturing prowess, paving the way for future defence Arnala sets sail, it carries the hopes of a nation and the legacy of a fort that once stood unyieldingly against the tides of history. With 15 more ships to follow, the Indian Navy is poised to bolster its coastal defences, ensuring continuous protection of its maritime borders and critical offshore assets. In an era of growing subsurface threats in the Indian Ocean, Arnala and its sister ships will stand as sentinels, safeguarding India's to India Today Magazine
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
BSL's special-grade steel powers Navy warfare
1 2 Bokaro: The Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL) has marked another significant step in India's journey towards defence self-reliance by supplying special-grade steel for the Navy's first indigenously designed and built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), INS Arnala, which was inducted into service on June 18, it said in a statement. Out of the 3,500 tonnes of special steel supplied by SAIL for the ASW-SWC project, BSL contributed 3,100 tonnes. This special-grade steel was used not only in INS Arnala but also in seven other warships under construction at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), showcasing BSL's critical role in strengthening India's naval capabilities, said a SAIL official. This move reinforces SAIL's role in advancing the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' (Self-Reliant India) mission. By reducing reliance on imported materials, BSL is contributing to a robust and indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem. Earlier, SAIL-BSL provided special steel for INS Vikrant, INS Vindhyagiri, INS Nilgiri, and INS Surat.
India.com
2 days ago
- General
- India.com
India's ‘INS Arnala' scares Pakistan! 1490 tons, 77-meter-long, largest Indian naval warship built by…, cost Rs…
The Indian Navy has inducted the anti-submarine warfare vessel INS Arnala, it is made for surveillance and rescue operations in shallow waters. It is built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. The 77-meter-long warship is crafted with over 80% indigenous materials. It is named after the historic Arnala Fort in Maharashtra. India's Maritime Power The induction of INS Arnala has lifted India's naval capabilities. It is the first ship in the series of shallow-water anti-submarine warfare vessels. Arnala is designed for underwater surveillance, search-and-rescue missions, and low-intensity maritime operations. It weighs over 1,490 tons, is the largest Indian naval warship with a diesel engine-waterjet combination. It is built by GRSE in collaboration with L&T Shipbuilders. Its components were supplied by different Indian defense companies and over 55 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) like Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), L&T, Mahindra Defense, and MEIL. GRSE Major Project GRSE, in partnership with another shipbuilding company, is constructing eight ships each under this project. INS Arnala is part of a program to build 16 anti-submarine warfare shallow-water craft (ASW-SWC) at a total cost of Rs 12,622 crore and the cost of each vessel is Rs 789 crore. The ship's name is given to the historic Arnala Fort, located in Vasai, Maharashtra. Built in 1737 under the leadership of Chimaji Appa of the Maratha Empire, the fort was constructed to monitor the mouth of the Vaitarna River and also to be a safeguard near the northern Konkan coast. What Is GRSE? Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), based in Kolkata, is a shipbuilding company in India and a public sector undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Defense. GRSE mainly constructs warships and other vessels for the Indian Navy and Coast Guard and also exports ships as well.
India Gazette
2 days ago
- Business
- India Gazette
Maharatna SAIL supplied entire requirement of special steel for newly commissioned INS Arnala
New Delhi [India], June 19 (ANI): The requirement of special steel for India Navy's ship INS Arnala was wholly supplied by Maharatna Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), taking a step forward towards the country's self-reliance in the defence sector and import substitution, the Ministry of Steel said in an official statement on Thursday. 'SAIL supplied the entire requirement of special steel for India's first indigenously designed and built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), 'INS Arnala', which was commissioned into the Indian Navy on June 18, 2025,' the ministry's statement read. The Maharatna PSU also catered to the entire requirement of special steel for the other seven ASW-SWC corvettes being built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE). 'Partnering India's march towards defence indigenisation, SAIL has supplied the entire special steel for this project. This marks yet another impressive milestone in SAIL's journey to support India's 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiative and help the nation lessen its import dependency,' the statement added. The Steel ministry also highlighted that SAIL has supplied the special steel for building the Navy's ships before too, including for INS Vikrant, INS Vindyagiri, INS Nilgiri, INS Surat, among other notable projects. On Wednesday, India's first indigenously designed and built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), INS Arnala, was commissioned at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, with Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan presiding over the ceremony. 'INS Arnala - the pioneering Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft - proudly joins the Indian Navy today, 18 June 2025, at the Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam,' the Indian Navy said in a statement earlier. Built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, and delivered on May 8 at L&T Shipyard in Kattupalli under a Public-Private Partnership, INS Arnala is the first in a series of eight ASW-SWCs being developed to enhance India's coastal defence, a prior statement from the Minister of Defence said. The 77-metre-long vessel, named after the historic Arnala fort off Vasai, Maharashtra, is equipped with advanced underwater surveillance systems, mine-laying capabilities, and is designed for operations in shallow waters. It is the largest Indian Naval warship propelled by a diesel engine-waterjet combination. According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the ship has been designed for underwater surveillance, search and rescue operations, and Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO). Notably, INS Arnala was delivered to the Navy during Operation Sindoor, when tensions were heightened, which in turn demonstrates the Navy's operational readiness and indigenous production capacity. (ANI)
Hans India
2 days ago
- Hans India
INS Arnala Joins Indian Navy as New Anti-Submarine Warship
On 18 June 2025, INS Arnala was added to the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy. The event took place at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam. General Anil Chauhan, the Chief of Defence Staff, attended the ceremony. The warship is the first in a new group called Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft. It was built to find and stop enemy submarines. It can also do search and rescue missions and other small naval tasks. INS Arnala is 77 meters long and weighs over 1,490 tonnes. It is the biggest Indian warship that uses a diesel engine and waterjet to move. The ship was made in India by GRSE and Larsen & Toubro Shipbuilding. This shows India's progress in making its own defence equipment. It supports the goal of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India). The Chief of Defence Staff said India's Navy is growing stronger. The country is building more warships on its own. Indian warships now use modern tools like stealth systems, radars, and electronic warfare tech. INS Arnala is named after a fort in Maharashtra. It is a symbol of India's power at sea and success in local shipbuilding.
