Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft INS Arnala

Context:
 

1. Recently, an Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC), named INS Arnala, has been delivered to the Indian Navy.

About INS Arnala:
 

1. The ship is  indigenously developed because 88% of the warship is made in India.
2. The ship is 77.6 meters long and 10.5 meters wide.
3. It can detect and attack submarines in shallow coastal waters and also work with aircraft for anti-submarine missions.
4. INS Arnala is named after Arnala Island, which has a historic fort near the Maharashtra coast.
5. The INS Arnala is the first of a series of 16 ASW SWCs being built for the Indian Navy for self-reliance and defence preparedness.
6. Other warships being built by GRSE include:
   1. 3 advanced stealth frigates (Project 17A)
   2. 7 more ASW shallow water crafts
   3. Survey Vessels
   4. Next generation offshore patrol vessels
7. The delivery of INS Arnala marks a significant step towards India's maritime security.

Manufactured by:

1. The ship was built through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between GRSE and L&T's Kattupalli shipyard in Tamil Nadu.
2. The GRSE (Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers), a shipbuilder based in Kolkata.
3. GRSE won the Raksha Mantri Award in 2022 for designing INS Arnala, called the "Most Silent Ship."

What is Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC)?

1. An Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) is a special type of small warship used by the Navy to find and fight enemy submarines near the coast, in shallow waters.
   1. "Anti-Submarine" means it is made to detect and attack submarines.
   2. "Shallow Water" means it works close to the shore, not deep in the ocean.
   3. "Craft" just means a type of ship or boat.
2. So, an ASW SWC is a small Navy ship that can search for hidden enemy submarines underwater and stop them from attacking, especially in areas near the shore, like harbors and coastlines.
3. It uses sonar (underwater radar), weapons, and can work with helicopters or aircraft to enhance its effectiveness.

What is SONAR?

1. Sonar stands for Sound Navigation and Ranging.
2. Sonar is like eyes for ships underwater.
3. It uses sound waves (not light) to find things underwater, like submarines or rocks.
4. How does It Work?
   1. The ship sends out a sound signal into the water.
   2. That sound strikes at any object like submarines or rocks and comes back.
   3. The ship listens to the echo and figures out where the object is located.
   4. There are two types of SONAR:
      1. Active sonar: Sends out sound waves and listens for their echoes.
      2. Passive sonar: Only listens for sounds made by other things, like enemy submarines.

What are Stealth Frigates?

1. Stealth frigates are a type of Navy warship that are designed to be hard to be seen or detected by enemies.
2. "Frigate" is a medium-sized warship used by the Navy for fighting, protecting other ships, and patrolling.
3. "Stealth" means being hidden or hard to find.
4. So, a stealth frigate is a fighting ship that is specially built to hide from enemy radar.
5. It has a special shape and coating that makes it hard for enemies to detect it on radar or hear it underwater.

Coating Materials Used on Stealth Frigates Include:

Type of Signature (What Enemy Sensors Detect)	Stealth Measures Used (How the Ship Hides)
Radar (enemy radar detects the ship's shape)	Special coatings called RAM (Radar-Absorbent Materials) that absorb radar signals instead of bouncing them back. These coatings are made of carbon, magnetic materials, etc.
Infrared (IR) (detects heat from engines)	Uses heat-resistant ceramic coatings and cooling systems to reduce the ship's heat and make it hard to detect with thermal cameras.
Visual (detects ship with eyes or cameras)	The ship is painted with dull, non-shiny colors and built with angular designs so it blends in with the sea and sky, making it harder to see.
Acoustic (detects underwater noise from ship)	Uses special materials and engine designs to reduce noise and vibrations. This makes it hard for enemy submarines using sonar to hear the ship.

Why is It Called the Most Silent Ship?

1. INS Arnala is called the "Most Silent Ship" because it makes very little noise in water.
2. Its engines are specially mounted to stop vibrations from spreading.
3. It has special propellers that don't make bubbles or sound.
4. The ship is built to be hard to find by enemy submarines.

What is Project 17A?

1. It is known as Project 17 Alpha frigates (P-17A).
2. It was launched in 2019 by the Indian Navy.
3. Its objective was to build a series of stealth guided-missile frigates.
4. These are being constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Public Private Partnership (PPP) with other counterparts.
5. The stealth design uses radar-absorbent coating material to make warships undetectable for the enemies.
6. This technology also reduces the infrared signals of the ship.
7. The first stealth ship built under Project 17A, named Nilgiri, was launched in 2019.
8. Udaygiri is the second ship, which was launched under this project in May 2022.

Conclusion

INS Arnala and Project 17A ships show how India is making strong and smart warships. These ships are built to stay hidden and quiet so they can protect the Nation. They use new technology made mostly in India i.e., indigenous technology to keep the seas and coast of India safe. This helps India become stronger and more ready to defend itself.