India Commissions Its First ASW-SWC Corvette

INS Arnala Commissioned: India’s First ASW Shallow Water Craft Enhances Coastal Defence

• Date: June 18, 2025

• Location: Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam

• Commissioned by: Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan

• Inducted into: Eastern Naval Command

Key Highlights:

• INS Arnala is the first of 16 ASW-SWC vessels—specialised light corvettes—designed to counter submarine threats, UUVs, and midget submarines in shallow and littoral waters.

• Part of a Make-in-India programme, with 80% indigenous content.

• Designed and built by GRSE in partnership with L&T Kattupalli, under a Public-Private Partnership—a first for Indian shipbuilding.

• Named after Arnala Fort (Maharashtra), it marks a generational leap in India’s shallow water anti-submarine capability.

Sensors & Electronics:

• Sonars:

• ABHAY hull-mounted sonar – DRDO’s NPOL + BEL

• Towed Low-Frequency Variable Depth Sonar (LFVDS) – CFF Fluid Control Ltd. (India) + Atlas Elektronik (Germany)

• UWACS – underwater acoustic communication with subs/surface platforms

Electronic Warfare (EW):

• R-ESM and C-ESM/COMINT systems

• Navigation: Dual navigation radars

Combat Systems:

• Combat Management System (CMS)

• Integrated Bridge System (IBS)

• Integrated ASW Complex (IAC) – by BEL + DRDO

Mission Capabilities:

• Primary role: Anti-submarine warfare in shallow/littoral waters

Other operations:

• Sub-surface surveillance and interdiction

• Mine laying

• SAR and Low-Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO)

• Coordinated ASW with aircraft

Stealth:

• Reduced Radar Cross Section (RCS)

• Low acoustic and infrared signatures

Strategic Importance:

• Replaces ageing Abhay-class corvettes (1989–1991)

• Enhances India's coastal defence, indigenous shipbuilding, and Atmanirbharta in defence

• Symbolizes modernisation aligned with Viksit Bharat @2047.