Kolkata-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd. (GRSE) has launched “Ajay” (Yard 3034), the eighth and final vessel in a series of Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Shallow Water Crafts for the Indian Navy. The vessels, part of the Arnala-class, are designed to detect and neutralise enemy submarines in coastal waters and can conduct coordinated ASW operations with aircraft.
Key Highlights
- Project Milestone: Marks completion of the eight-vessel Arnala-class ASW Shallow Water Craft series.
- Class & Design: Arnala-class ships; equipped with indigenous weapons, sensors, advanced communication, and electronic warfare systems.
- Timeline:
- First ship, INS Arnala – commissioned on 18 June 2025.
- Second ship, Androth – completed sea trials; delivery planned for August 2025.
- “Ajay” launched nine months after seventh vessel “Abhay”.
- GRSE’s Other Projects:
- P-17 Alpha frigates
- Large Survey Vessel (Large)
- Next-Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel
- Multiple classified/special defence projects.
About ASW Shallow Water Crafts
Primary Role:
- Coastal defence against enemy submarines; full-scale sub-surface surveillance.
Weapons & Systems:
- Lightweight torpedoes
- ASW rockets and mines
- 30 mm Close-in Weapon System (CIWS)
- 12.7 mm Stabilised Remote-Control Guns
Sensors:
- Hull Mounted Sonar
- Low-Frequency Variable Depth Sonar (LFVDS)
Dimensions:
- Length: 77.6 metres
- Beam (width): 10.5 metres
- Low draught for shallow water operations.
Additional Capabilities:
- Mine-laying, Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO), and surface platform engagement.
Significance
- For Indian Navy: Enhances near-shore anti-submarine capability and strengthens coastal defence network.
- For Indigenous Shipbuilding: Reflects Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing with advanced indigenous technology integration.
- For Maritime Security: Provides multi-role coastal combat readiness and rapid response against underwater threats.
GRSE (Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd.)
- Established: 1884 (as a small workshop; became PSU in 1960).
- Headquarters: Kolkata, West Bengal.
- Under: Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
- Notable Products: Frigates, Corvettes, ASW Ships, Survey Vessels.
Key Facts
INS Ajay (Historic Note):
- Earlier INS Ajay (P34) was an Abhay-class corvette decommissioned in 2022 after 32 years of service.
Arnala-class ASW Shallow Water Crafts:
- Named after INS Arnala, which in turn was named after Arnala Island (Maharashtra).
- Built under a contract awarded to GRSE in 2019 for eight vessels.
ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare):
- Involves detection, tracking, and neutralisation of submarines using ships, aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned systems.
Low-Frequency Variable Depth Sonar (LFVDS):
- Sonar system deployable to variable depths for enhanced submarine detection in different water conditions.