Indian anti-submarine warfare: India is all set to commission its first-ever anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft (ASW-SWC), named “Arnala”, at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam on June 18. The event will be a big moment for the Indian Navy and will take place in the presence of Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan. The ceremony is being hosted by Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, who is the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command. This will be the official day when the first of the sixteen ASW-SWC class ships becomes part of the Indian Navy.
The Arnala ship has been designed and built completely in India. It was made by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), a shipbuilding company in Kolkata. The project happened under a special kind of teamwork between the government and private sector, with L&T Shipbuilders joining hands. The ship was delivered to the Navy on May 8. This ship is a strong example of what the country can achieve under the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ idea, which wants to make India more self-reliant in defence and other areas.
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The Arnala’s crest shows a blue background with a unique sea shell called the Auger Shell. The ship’s name is written in Devanagari script at the bottom of the crest. This shell has a spiral and strong shape with a sharp tip. It stands for strength, alertness, survival and power in tough situations. The Indian Navy says this symbol matches what Arnala is built for to survive the strong waves of the ocean and carry out anti-submarine missions with perfect aim and advanced weapons.
#GRSE created history today with the delivery of INS Arnala, the first ship of the Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) class, to the #IndianNavy. The acceptance documents (D448) were signed by Cmde PR Hari, IN (Retd), Chairman & Managing Director, GRSE, and Cdr… pic.twitter.com/ublNoFL590
— GRSE – Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (@OfficialGRSE) May 8, 2025
Why the Name ‘Arnala’?
Arnala gets its name from the famous Arnala Fort in Maharashtra. The fort is about 13 km north of Vasai and was built in 1737 by the Marathas. It was led by Chimaji Appa. The fort was built in such a smart place that it helped control the mouth of the Vaitarna River and kept a watch over the northern Konkan coastline.
The Navy explained how the ship shares this same strong character as the fort. Captain Vivek Madhwal, who speaks for the Navy, said, “Much like the fort, which stood resilient against various invaders, the ship is designed to be a formidable presence at sea. Its robust construction and advanced capabilities ensure that it can withstand the challenges of the maritime domain, safeguarding India’s waters from emerging threats.”
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He also added, “The ship’s armoured hull mirrors the fort’s enduring stone walls, while its state-of-the-art weaponry and sensors replace the cannons that once defended against invaders.” For the Navy, the name Arnala is not just a name. It stands for bravery and smart defence, both in the past and now. Captain Madhwal also said, “Arnala embodies the strategic might and historical significance of its namesake, proving that while battlefields may change, the spirit of defence remains unwavering, whether on land or at sea.”
At the bottom of the ship’s crest, there’s a ribbon with the ship’s motto written on it: “Arnave Shauryam”. That means “Valour in the Ocean”. This simple yet powerful line shows the courage and strength the ship promises to bring to the Indian Navy.
