INS Arnala: India’s warship built to detect, track and hunt enemy submarines - what gives it an edge

INS Arnala, the Indian Navy’s first indigenously designed and built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), marks a significant milestone in India’s transition from a “Buyer’s Navy” to a “Builder’s Navy”, highlighting the growing strength of domestic shipbuilding under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.INS Arnala is the lead ship of a new class of Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft designed for operations in coastal and shallow waters, where detecting and tracking hostile submarines is particularly challenging.The vessel has been indigenously designed and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) under a ministry of defence programme aimed at strengthening India’s indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem.Named after the historic Arnala Fort off Vasai in Maharashtra, the warship reflects the Navy’s tradition of linking its vessels with India’s maritime heritage. With more than 80 per cent indigenous content, the project brought together public and private sector partners, including a wide network of MSMEs supplying combat systems, sensors and equipment.

Launch, delivery and commissioning

Arnala was launched on December 20, 2022, at Larsen & Toubro’s shipyard in Kattupalli near Chennai.

After extensive outfitting and sea trials, the ship was delivered to the Indian Navy and commissioned into the Eastern Naval Command at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam, on June 18, 2025, in the presence of chief of defence staff general Anil Chauhan.The ceremony was attended by senior naval officers, civilian dignitaries and representatives from GRSE and L&T, underlining its importance for indigenous naval capability.

What is INS Arnala?

Measuring about 77 metres in length with a displacement of around 1,490 tonnes, INS Arnala falls in the light corvette or shallow water combatant category, optimised for coastal missions and rapid deployment.

It is the largest Indian naval warship powered by a diesel engine–waterjet propulsion system, enabling high manoeuvrability, quick acceleration and operations in shallow-draught waters close to the coast.

The design also incorporates stealth features to reduce radar, acoustic and infrared signatures, improving survivability during anti-submarine operations in crowded littoral environments.The ship is designed for underwater surveillance, search and rescue (SAR) operations and Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO), alongside its primary anti-submarine warfare role.Equipped with advanced underwater sensors, mine-laying capability and modern command-and-control systems, INS Arnala can operate independently or as part of larger naval task groups, contributing to sea lane surveillance, coastal security and protection of high-value assets.

From Buyers to Builders

As the first vessel of the ASW SWC (GRSE) series, INS Arnala forms part of a broader effort to replace ageing coastal ASW platforms and strengthen India’s maritime deterrence.Its high indigenous content and public–private construction model are expected to boost the domestic industry and deepen the Navy–industry partnership for future warship development.For India’s maritime strategy, the induction of INS Arnala signals growing confidence in home-grown design and combat systems, reinforcing the country’s ambition to build a technologically advanced, predominantly indigenous fleet while strengthening security in the Indian Ocean Region.