INS Anjadip, next powerhouse indigenous indigenously designed ‘Dolphin Hunter’, joins Indian Navy

The Indian Navy on Friday commissioned INS Anjadip, a next-generation Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), significantly boosting its coastal defence and under-sea warfare capabilities.

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi commissioned the warship at Chennai Port in the presence of senior naval and government officials.INS Anjadip is the third vessel of the eight-ship ASW-SWC project and has been built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. The ship has been designed for operations in coastal and shallow waters and will operate under the Eastern Naval Command.

The 77-metre warship is equipped with advanced anti-submarine warfare systems and indigenous sensors, including the hull-mounted sonar Abhay. It is armed with lightweight torpedoes and anti-submarine rockets and is designed to detect, track and neutralise enemy submarines in littoral waters, earning it the description of a “Dolphin Hunter”.Powered by a high-speed water-jet propulsion system, INS Anjadip can achieve speeds of up to 25 knots, enabling rapid response and sustained operations.

It is among the largest Indian naval warships to be propelled by water-jets and is specifically tailored for the challenges of shallow-water combat.Besides anti-submarine operations, the ship is capable of carrying out coastal surveillance, low-intensity maritime operations and search-and-rescue missions. The vessel will strengthen the Navy’s anti-submarine and coastal security capabilities while enhancing protection of maritime approaches, including those off Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.Named after Anjadip island off the coast of Karwar in Karnataka, the ship carries historical significance. The island witnessed decisive naval action during the 1961 operations that led to the liberation of Goa.Addressing the commissioning ceremony, Admiral Tripathi said the Navy was maintaining a rapid pace of inductions."During the year 2025, the Indian Navy commissioned 12 warships and one submarine. This momentum continues with plans to induct about 15 more ships in 2026, setting an unprecedented benchmark and marking the highest rate of induction in our history," he said.Highlighting the importance of the platform, he said the induction marked a major strengthening of India’s under-sea warfare capability.INS Anjadip also carries forward the legacy of its predecessor, a Petya-class corvette that served the Navy from 1972 to 2003.The commissioning marks another step in strengthening India’s indigenous naval capabilities and enhancing maritime security in coastal and shallow waters.