New Delhi: Indian Navy on Wednesday added a new warship to its fleet with the commissioning of INS Arnala, the country’s first indigenously built anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft. The ceremony was held on June 18 at Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam.
Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan was present as the chief guest. The event was hosted by Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, who is the flag officer commanding-in-chief of Eastern Naval Command. Senior naval officers, representatives from Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and other defence sector companies also attended the event.
INS Arnala has been completely designed and built in India. It is part of a project to build 16 such shallow water crafts to strengthen the Navy’s coastal defence. This ship was built by GRSE in collaboration with L&T. More than 80% of the equipment used in this ship is made in India. Companies like Bharat Electronics, Mahindra Defence, and more than 55 MSMEs contributed to its construction.
INS Arnala is specially designed to locate and destroy enemy submarines in coastal areas. It is equipped with modern sonar systems, torpedoes, and rocket launchers. The ship is 77 meters long and weighs 1,490 tons. It runs on a diesel engine and waterjet system, giving it high speed and good control, which is important for shallow water operations.
The ship is named after Arnala Fort in Maharashtra, which has historical significance and was originally built in the 16th century. The name reflects the Navy’s tradition of remembering India’s heritage while moving forward with modern defence needs.
With Arnala now part of the Navy, India has taken a big step forward in its goal of becoming self-reliant in defence. This warship will boost India’s naval strength and improve its ability to protect its coastal areas from underwater threats.
