INS Arnala, the first of sixteen Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), was commissioned into the Indian Navy’s Eastern Naval Command on 18 June 2025 at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam. The commissioning ceremony was attended by General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff, along with senior naval officials, civilian dignitaries, ex-commanding officers of the former INS Arnala, and representatives from GRSE and Larsen & Toubro Shipbuilding.
The GRSE-built INS Arnala is designed for anti-submarine operations and is capable of conducting sub-surface surveillance, interdiction, search and rescue missions, and low-intensity maritime operations. The 77-metre-long warship has a gross tonnage of over 1,490 tonnes and is the largest Indian Naval warship to be propelled by a diesel engine-waterjet combination.
The ship is equipped with anti-submarine warfare weapons and a sensor suite. It is part of a broader programme involving the construction of multiple ships, including capital warships and auxiliaries, within India.
Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) supplied the entire requirement of special steel for INS Arnala. SAIL also provided the complete special steel requirement for seven additional ASW-SWC corvettes under construction by GRSE. According to SAIL, the company has previously supplied special steel for naval projects including INS Vikrant, INS Vindhyagiri, INS Nilgiri, and INS Surat.
“The Indian Navy’s remarkable transition from a ‘Buyer’s Navy’ to a ‘Builder’s Navy’ is the backbone of the country’s Blue Water aspirations. With a large number of ships currently under construction in India — including capital warships and auxiliaries — India has emerged as a formidable force in shipbuilding,” said General Anil Chauhan.
INS Arnala is named after the coastal fort of Arnala in Maharashtra. According to the Indian Navy, the ship’s induction aligns with its planned force levels to address future maritime challenges.
Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), based in Kolkata, is a shipbuilding company that primarily constructs naval and coast guard vessels. GRSE has delivered a range of vessels for the Indian Navy and other clients, including frigates, corvettes, and patrol ships.
