INS Arnala – 1st Indigenously-Built ASW-SWC Ship

1. The Indian Navy is set to commission INS Arnala, the first of 16 indigenously-built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW-SWC), at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam on June 18, 2025.
2. This marks a significant progress in India's naval capabilities and its 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India) initiative in defence manufacturing.

About INS Arnala

1. Type: 1st indigenously-built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) ship.
   • Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW-SWC) are small, agile warships specially designed to detect and engage enemy submarines operating close to coastlines and in shallow water.
2. Role & Enhancement: It will significantly enhance India’s capabilities in coastal surveillance, mine-laying, and sub-surface operations.
3. Builder: Designed and constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, in partnership with L&T Shipbuilders under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
4. Delivery: The Indian Navy received delivery of the ship on May 8, 2025.
5. Induction Ceremony: Will be led by Chief of Defence Staff at Eastern Naval Command.

Operational Region and Capabilities

1. Designed For: Coastal waters and the broader Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
2. Mission Profile:
   1. Anti-Submarine Warfare Operations (ASW).
   2. Subsurface Surveillance.
   3. Low-Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO).
   4. Search and Rescue (SAR).
   5. Mine-laying.

Key Features of INS Arnala

1. Dimensions & Performance:
   1. Length: 77.6 meters
   2. Displacement: 1490+ tonnes
   3. Speed: Up to 25 knots
   4. Endurance: 1800 nautical miles (~3300 km)
2. Propulsion: Notably, it is the first Indian naval warship powered by a Diesel Engine–Waterjet combination.
3. Indigenization (Aatmanirbhar Bharat):
   1. Highly indigenous, with over 80% content locally sourced.
   2. Most systems are put together by Indian defence companies such as Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), L&T, Mahindra Defence, and MEIL.
   3. A total of 55 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) contributed to its development, strengthening domestic defence industries.
4. Advanced Systems: Supports AI-driven combat systems, sonar arrays, and mine-laying gear.

Naming and Symbolism:

1. Name Inspiration: Named after the historic Arnala Fort off Vasai, Maharashtra, near Mumbai’s northern coast. The fort is strategically located to face the Vaitarna River mouth.
2. Ship's Crest:
   1. Showcases a stylised Auger Shell on a blue backdrop.
   2. Represents resilience, vigilance, and supremacy in demanding conditions.
   3. The spiralling, fortified structure and precise tip of the Auger Shell embody resilience, vigilance, survival, and dominance in harsh environments, reflecting the ship’s ability to endure the ocean’s relentless forces and execute precise anti-submarine operations.
3. Ship's Motto: "Arnave Shauryam" (written in Devanagari beneath the crest), which translates to "Valour in the Ocean," capturing the vessel’s operational spirit.

About Arnala Fort (Historical Context for Naming) Location: Arnala village, Vasai taluka, Maharashtra, near Mumbai’s northern coast. Also known as Jaldurg or Janjire Arnala, it is surrounded by sea waters. Historical Significance: Originally built by Sultan Mahmud Begda in 1516. Strategically important, it was captured and ruled by Portuguese, Marathas (built by Marathas in 1737), Mughals, and Peshwas over time. Architectural Features: Rectangular fort structure with 3 main entrances. Bastions on the north. Houses temples like Trimbakeshwar, Bhavani Mata, Kalika Mata, and Mahadev. Features wells for water, showcasing sustainable coastal defence design, even with scarce food on the fort.

Other Key Warships Awaiting Commissioning/Induction:

1. Talwar-Class Stealth Frigates:
   1. INS Tamal: The 2nd Talwar-class stealth frigate under a 2016 Indo-Russian agreement, set to be commissioned by the end of June 2025.
   2. Acquisition Context: Part of a $2.5 billion deal with Russia for four frigates: 2 constructed in Russia, and two at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) with Russian technology transfer.
   3. Sister Ship: INS Tushil, which was commissioned in December 2024 at Russia’s Yantar Shipyard and reached India in February 2025.
2. Other Vessels Awaiting Induction:
   1. Diving Support Ship: Under construction at Hindustan Shipyard Limited.
   2. Project 17A (Nilgiri-class) Frigates: At least one frigate, and possibly a second, from this class is expected to be commissioned before year-end. These are being built jointly by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited and GRSE.
   3. Large Survey Vessel: From GRSE.
3. Recent Commissioning (January 2025):
   1. INS Vagsheer: The 6th Kalvari-class submarine under Project 75, commissioned in January 2025.
   2. Capabilities: A diesel-electric submarine, operating underwater on battery power and on the surface using diesel engines, offering silent patrol capability close to the coast.

What is Project 17A?

Feature	Details
Origin	Project 17A (P-17A) was launched by Indian Navy in 2019 to construct a series of stealth guided-missile frigates. They are the upgraded version of the Shivalik-class (Project 17) frigates currently in service.
Construction	These frigates are being constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE).
Stealth Features	Includes radar-absorbent coatings and low observability for enhanced stealth. Technology to minimize infrared emissions, making them harder to detect by adversaries.
Key Milestones	The 1st frigate, Nilgiri, was launched in 2019 and is now inducted. The 2nd frigate, Udaygiri, was launched in 2022 and is expected to be commissioned in mid 2025.
Current Status	7 P-17A frigates are in different stages of construction at MDL and GRSE.
Indigenous Contribution	Around 75% of project orders have been placed with Indian companies, including MSMEs, reinforcing the Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiative.

What is Project 75?

Feature	Details
Origin	Project 75 involves the construction of 6 Scorpene-class diesel-electric attack submarines for the Indian Navy.
Construction	All six submarines are being built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai, in collaboration with France's Naval Group.
Timeline of Commissioning	INS Kalvari (2017), INS Khanderi (2019), INS Karanj (2021), INS Vela (2021), INS Vagir (2023) and INS Vagsheer (2025)
Design	Based on the Scorpene-class design, renowned for stealth and operational versatility. Diesel-electric propulsion systems ensure silent operations, crucial for stealth missions. Incorporates advanced acoustic silencing techniques, low radiated noise levels, modular construction and the ability to launch precision-guided weapons. Plans are underway to retrofit all Scorpene-class submarines with AIP systems
Armament	Torpedoes: Can launch various types of torpedoes for anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare. Missiles: Anti-ship missiles for surface target engagement. Mines: Can deploy naval mines for area denial operations. Advanced sonar and sensor suites for superior enemy detection and tracking.
ENSURE IAS PRELIMS MCQ: Q: INS Arnala, recently commissioned by the Indian Navy, is significant because it is:  A) India’s first indigenously-built aircraft carrier  B) India’s first indigenously-built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC)  C) India’s first nuclear-powered submarine  D) India’s first stealth frigate Answer: B) India’s first indigenously-built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC)

 

ENSURE IAS Mains QUESTION  (250 words ) Q: Discuss the strategic and operational significance of INS Arnala in the context of India’s maritime security and the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' initiative. How does the induction of such indigenously-built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW-SWC) enhance India’s capabilities in the Indian Ocean Region?