VISAKHAPATNAM, India — The Indian Navy commissioned INS Arnala, the first in a new class of Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam. The ceremony marked a significant milestone in India’s efforts to achieve self-reliance in defense manufacturing.
Chief of Defense Staff Gen. Anil Chauhan presided over the event, which the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command hosted. The ceremony drew senior naval leaders, civilian dignitaries, ex-commanding officers of the former INS Arnala, and representatives from Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) and Larsen & Toubro Shipbuilding.
INS Arnala was delivered to the Navy on May 8 under the guidance of the Directorate of Ship Production and with oversight from Warship Overseeing Teams based in Kolkata and Kattupalli. The ship was named after the historic Arnala Fort off Vasai, Maharashtra — a symbol of resilience that the Navy says the vessel now represents at sea.
At 77.6 meters long and weighing over 1,490 tonnes, INS Arnala is the largest Indian Navy warship to use a diesel engine–waterjet propulsion system. It is designed for subsurface surveillance, interdiction, search and rescue missions, and low-intensity maritime operations. The ship’s robust build and advanced capabilities make it well-suited for coastal defense and operations in the strategically vital Indian Ocean Region.
“INS Arnala is not just a ship — it is a symbol of India’s transformation from a ‘Buyer’s Navy’ to a ‘Builder’s Navy,'” Chauhan said. “It reflects the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and the Navy’s strategic shift toward indigenous solutions.”
More than 80% of the ship’s content is indigenous, incorporating systems and technologies from leading Indian defense firms, including Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), L&T, Mahindra Defence, and MEIL. The construction process involved over 55 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), underscoring the project’s role in promoting the domestic industry and spurring economic activity.
The commissioning of INS Arnala underscores India’s growing naval ambitions and its ability to produce complex warships domestically. It comes as dozens of capital ships and auxiliaries are under construction in Indian shipyards — a sign of the country’s emergence as a significant maritime force.
Officials say the ship will play a critical role in enhancing India’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities and ensuring security in coastal and shallow waters. With its induction, the Indian Navy continues to reinforce its commitment to safeguarding national maritime interests through indigenous strength and innovation.
