The Indian Navy has received the fourth Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) – ‘Agray’, indigenously designed and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. The ship is a reincarnation of the erstwhile INS Agray, the fourth of the 1241 PE Class of Patrol Vessels, decommissioned in 2017, thereby continuing the naval tradition of perpetuating distinguished legacy names.
About ASW SWCs
Indigenous Design & Construction: Designed and constructed by GRSE, Kolkata, in accordance with the Classification Rules of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS)
Advanced Features & Specifications
- Length: Approximately 77 metres.
- Propulsion: They are largestIndian Naval warships propelled by waterjets
- They are equipped with state-of-the-art:
- Lightweight Torpedoes
- Indigenous Rocket Launchers
- Shallow water SONAR
These features enable effective detection and neutralisation of underwater threats. These ships will further augment the Indian Navy’s anti-submarine and mine-warfare capabilities, as well as coastal surveillance.
Significance
ASW SWC Agray’s delivery is another milestone in the Indian Navy’s pursuit of indigenous shipbuilding. It is in line with the Government’s vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, with over 80% indigenous content. The ship also stands as a testament to the growing strength of the domestic defence manufacturing ecosystem and sustained efforts to reduce dependency on imports.