India commissions 1st anti-submarine warfare watercraft

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) – India on Wednesday commissioned its first Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), a move the Defense Ministry described as a "transformative moment" in the country’s naval capabilities.

The warship, INS Arnala, was formally inducted into service at a ceremony held at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam, in southern India. General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defense Staff, presided over the event.

Named after a historic fort on India’s western coast, INS Arnala is the first of 16 ASW-SWC class vessels being built for the Indian Navy. The Integrated Defense Staff described it as a “pioneering, indigenously built” platform that significantly enhances coastal security.

The Defense Ministry said the warship is equipped for subsurface surveillance, search and rescue operations, and low-intensity maritime missions. Measuring 77.6 meters in length and weighing over 1,490 tonnes, Arnala is the largest Indian naval ship powered by a diesel engine–waterjet combination.

The ministry noted that more than 80% of the ship’s components are domestically sourced, reflecting India’s push for defense self-reliance under its "Make in India" initiative.

“The commissioning strengthens India’s coastal defense and reaffirms its position as a self-reliant maritime power in the strategically vital Indian Ocean Region,” the ministry said in a statement.