KJIMarquis at 17:29, 5 May 2026

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{{Short description|Last ship of Arnala class corvettes of ASW-SWC project of the Indian Navy}}{{italic title|string=Ajay}}{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}}{{Use Indian English|date=May 2026}}
{{other ships|INS Ajay}}
{{Infobox ship
|section1={{Infobox ship/image
|image =
|image_caption =
}}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career
|hide_header =
|country = [[India]]
|flag = {{shipboxflag|India|naval}}
|name = INS ''Ajay''
|namesake =
|owner = [[Indian Navy]]
|operator = [[Indian Navy]]
|registry =
|route =
|ordered = 29 April 2019<ref name=":8" />
|awarded =
|builder = [[Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers]] (GRSE)
|original_cost = {{INRConvert|789|c|0}} (FY2020)
|yard_number = 3034
|way_number =
|laid_down = 10 May 2024<ref name="keel-laying"/>
|launched = 21 July 2025<ref name=":6" />
|sponsor =
|completed =
|acquired =
|commissioned =
|recommissioned =
|decommissioned =
|maiden_voyage =
|in_service =
|out_of_service =
|renamed =
|reclassified =
|refit =
|struck =
|reinstated =
|homeport =
|identification = [[Pennant number]]: P34
|motto =
|nickname =
|honours =
|honors =
|captured =
|fate =
|status = Launched<ref name=":6" />
|notes =
|badge =
}}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics
|type = [[Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft]]
|displacement = {{cvt|900|t|LT}}<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1885185 | title=LAUNCH OF 'ARNALA', FIRST SHIP OF ASW SWC (GRSE) PROJECT ON 20 DEC 22 AT M/S L&T, KATTUPALLI }}</ref>
|length = {{cvt|77.6|m|ftin}}<ref name="janes.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/grse-starts-asw-swc-corvette-production-in-partnership-with-larsen-toubro|title=GRSE starts ASW-SWC corvette production in partnership with Larsen & Toubro|website=Janes.com}}</ref>
|beam = {{cvt|10.5|m|ftin}}<ref name="janes.com"/>
|draft = {{cvt|2.7|m|ftin}}<ref name="janes.com"/>
|propulsion = [[Pump-jet|Water-jet propulsion]]<ref name="eurasiantimes.com">{{Cite web|url=https://eurasiantimes.com/touted-as-game-changer-what-are-indian-navys-anti-submarine-warfare-shallow-water-crafts/|title=Touted As 'Game-Changer', What Are Indian Navy's 'Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts'?|date=December 27, 2021|website=Latest Asian, Middle-East, EurAsian, Indian News}}</ref>
|sail_plan =
|speed = {{convert|25|kn|lk=in}}
|range = {{cvt|1800|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|14|kn}}<ref name="janes.com"/>
|endurance =
|test_depth =
|boats = 1 × [[Rigid inflatable boat|RHIB]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Mitsopoulos |first=Dimitris |date=2025-06-25 |title=India Commissions Its First ASW-SWC Corvette |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/06/india-commissions-its-first-asw-swc-corvette/ |access-date=2025-06-26 |website=Naval News |language=en-US}}</ref>
|capacity =
|troops =
|complement =
|crew = 57
(7 officers + 50 sailors)
|time_to_activate =
|sensors = *'''Combat suite:'''
** ASW Combat Suite (presumably the [[Defence Research and Development Organisation|DRDO]]-developed IAC MOD 'C' combat suite)<ref name="grse.in">{{Cite web|url=http://grse.in/eoi/EOI_ASW_SWC_R1.pdf|title=NIE No. GRSE/GMD/ASW-SWC/12/01 Expression of Interest (EOI) For Design of Anti Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) for Indian Navy.|website=grse.in|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418202243/http://grse.in/eoi/EOI_ASW_SWC_R1.pdf |archive-date=18 April 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://grse.in/index.php/tender-archive|title=Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd.- Government of India Undertaking - Tender Archive|website=grse.in}}</ref>
*'''Sonar:'''
** [[DRDO]] Abhay Hull-Mounted Sonar (HMS)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eyes and Ears Underwater |url=https://forceindia.net/feature-report/eyes-ears-underwater/ |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=Force India |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-08-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823153937/https://forceindia.net/feature-report/eyes-ears-underwater/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
** Low Frequency Variable Depth Sonar (LFVDS)<ref name="grse.in"/>
*'''Management systems:'''
** Fire Control System (FCS)
** Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS)<ref name="grse.in"/>
** Automatic Power Management System (APMS)<ref name="grse.in"/>
** Battle Damage Control System (BDCS)<ref name="grse.in"/>
|armament = *'''Anti-submarine warfare:'''
**1 × [[RBU-6000]] [[Anti-submarine warfare|anti-submarine]] rocket launcher<ref name=":0" />
**2 × triple lightweight [[torpedo]] launchers ([[Torpedo Advanced Light Shyena#Advanced Light-Weight Torpedo (ALWT)|Advanced Light-Weight Torpedo (ALWT)]])<ref name="eurasiantimes.com"/>
**[[Anti-submarine weapon|Anti-submarine mines]] (launched from mine-laying rails)
*'''Guns:'''
** 1 × [[Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers#Naval Surface Gun (NSG) 30 mm|Naval Surface Gun (30 mm)]]
** 2 × [[Ordnance Factory Tiruchirappalli|OFT]] 12.7 mm M2 [[Remote controlled weapon station|Stabilized Remote Controlled Gun]]
|armour =
|armor =
|aircraft =
|notes = Largest class of waterjet-powered vessels in the [[Indian Navy]].
}}
}}
'''INS ''Ajay''''' is the second ship of the ''Arnala'' class of the [[Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft]] (ASW SWC). The ship was ordered by the [[Indian Navy]].

== History ==

=== Background ===
On 23 December 2013, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) –- the main acquisition panel subordinate to India's [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defence]] (MoD), approved the procurement of sixteen [[anti-submarine warfare]] (ASW) vessels capable of operating in shallow waters, at a cost of {{INRConvert|13440|c|lk=on|year=2013}}, to replace the ageing [[Abhay-class corvette|''Abhay''-class corvettes]] of the Indian Navy – which were commissioned between 1989 and 1991. This includes the development of the vessels with about {{Convert|700|t|abbr=on}} displacement and an operational radius of {{Convert|200|nmi|abbr=on}} from its [[home port]]. They would be built by [[Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers]] (GRSE).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bhatnagar |first=Gaurav Vivek |date=2013-12-24 |title=Four major acquisitions for the Navy and the Army approved |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/four-major-acquisitions-for-the-navy-and-the-army-approved/article5494688.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250915131130/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/four-major-acquisitions-for-the-navy-and-the-army-approved/article5494688.ece |archive-date=2025-09-15 |access-date=2017-10-17 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Prasad |first=KV |date=2013-12-25 |title=MoD clears Navy plans to get 16 shallow-water anti-sub vessels |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20131226/main5.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250829044614/https://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20131226/main5.htm |archive-date=2025-08-29 |access-date=2025-09-15 |website=Tribune India}}</ref>

In June 2014, the MoD issued a tender, worth US$2.25 billion under the 'Buy and Make India' category to private-shipyards – including [[Larsen & Toubro]] (L&T), [[ABG Shipyard]], [[Pipavav Shipyard|Pipavav Defense and Offshore Engineering]], [[Goa Shipyard]] (GSL) and [[Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers]] (GRSE), for the procurement of the 16 anti-submarine vessels.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-06-18 |title=India issues $2.25bn tender to procure ASW shallow-water craft |url=https://www.naval-technology.com/news/newsindia-issues-225bn-tender-to-procure-asw-shallow-water-craft-4297624/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250915131157/https://www.naval-technology.com/news/newsindia-issues-225bn-tender-to-procure-asw-shallow-water-craft-4297624/ |archive-date=2025-09-15 |access-date=2025-09-15 |website=Naval Technology}}</ref>

In October 2017, [[Cochin Shipyard]] (CSL) and [[Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers]] (GRSE) emerged as the first and the second-lowest bidder in the tender, respectively. CSL had quoted a value of {{INRConvert|5400|c|year=2017|mode=historical}} while GRSE had to match the bid value of CSL in order to get the contract.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-01-16 |title=Garden Reach Shipbuilders set to win ₹5,400-crore Navy order |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/logistics/garden-reach-shipbuilders-set-to-win-5400crore-navy-order/article10035674.ece |access-date=2025-09-15 |website=BusinessLine |language=en}}</ref>

=== Purchase ===
On 29 April 2019, the MoD and GRSE signed a contract, valued at {{INRConvert|6311.32|c|year=2019}}, for eight anti-submarine vessels, to be delivered between 2022 and 2026. The contract mandates the first vessel to be delivered within 42 months of the date of signing, with the remaining seven vessels delivered at a rate of two ships per year within 84 months.<ref name=":8">{{Cite news |last=Himatsingka |first=Anuradha |date=2019-04-29 |title=GRSE signs contract for 8 anti-submarine warfare shallow water crafts for Indian Navy |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/grse-signs-contract-for-8-anti-submarine-warfare-shallow-water-crafts-for-indian-navy/articleshow/69099130.cms |access-date=2025-09-15 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite press release |title=Contract Signing with M/S CSL and M/S GRSE for Acquisition of Sixteen Anti Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) for Indian Navy |date=2019-04-30 |publisher=[[Press Information Bureau]] |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1571375 |access-date=2025-09-15}}</ref>

On 30 April 2019, the MoD and CSL signed a similar contract for the construction of the remaining eight vessels – within a deadline of 84 months.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 April 2019 |title=GRSE Signs Contract for 08 Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Watercraft |url=https://psuwatch.com/grse-signs-contract-for-08-anti-submarine-warfare-shallow-watercraft |website=psuwatch.com}}</ref> Under this contract, the first ship was also expected to be delivered within a span of 42 months, with subsequent deliveries of two ships per year.<ref name=":9" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=30 April 2019 |title=Cochin Shipyard gets Rs 6,311 crore contract for anti-submarine warfare ships |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/story/cochin-shipyard-gets-rs-6311-crore-contract-for-anti-submarine-warfare-ships-188690-2019-04-30 |website=Business Today}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 30, 2019 |title=Cochin Shipyard gets ₹6,311 crore contract for anti-submarine warfare ships |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/cochin-shipyard-gets-rs-6-311-crore-contract-for-anti-submarine-warfare-ships-1556639149645.html |website=mint}}</ref>

=== Construction ===
GRSE formed a [[Public Private Partnership]] alliance with [[Larsen & Toubro]] involving its [[Kattupalli Shipyard]] to undertake the entire ASW SWC project along with the [[Sandhayak-class survey vessel (2023)|Survey Vessel (Large) Project]].

The [[keel laying]] ceremony of the ship was conducted on 10 May 2024 at GRSE Main Works Unit in Kolkata.<ref name="keel-laying">{{Cite web |title=KEEL LAYING OF 8th ASW SWC (ex-GRSE) ON 10 MAY 24 AT M/S GRSE KOLKATA |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2020235 |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=pib.gov.in}}</ref>[[Ceremonial ship launching|Christened]] ''Ajay'', the ship was launched into the water of the [[Hooghly River]] on 21 July 2025.<ref name=":6" />

=== Namesake ===
The ship, ''Ajay'', was named after [[INS Ajay (1990)|INS Ajay]], a retired [[Abhay-class corvette]], .

== Design ==
{{Excerpt|INS Arnala (2022)|Design}}

=== Weapons ===
{{Excerpt|INS Arnala (2022)|Weapons}}

=== Sensors ===
{{Excerpt|INS Arnala (2022)|Sensors}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ajay}}
[[Category:Arnala-class corvettes]]
[[Category:2025 ships]]
[[Category:Ships built in Kolkata]]

INS Ajay 2025 - Revision history

KJIMarquis at 17:29, 5 May 2026