Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft

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Last edited May 5, 2026

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Template:Infobox ship The Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) is a class of anti-submarine warfare (ASW) water craft currently being built for the Indian Navy, by Cochin Shipyard (CSL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE).[1] They were conceived as a replacement to the ageing Template:Sclasss of the Indian Navy, and are designed to undertake ASW duties — including subsurface surveillance in littoral waters, search-and-attack unit (SAU) missions and coordinated anti-submarine warfare operations with naval aircraft.[2] They were also designed to provide secondary duties – including defense against intruding aircraft, minelaying and search-and-rescue (SAR).[3]

Equipped with sophisticated sensors and ordnance, the vessels also possess the capabilities to interdict and destroy subsurface targets — primarily hostile submarines, within the vicinity of coastal waters.[2] A total of 16 vessels are being built for the Indian Navy, jointly by CSL and GRSE under the Make in India initiative.[4] The Indian Navy plans to have all 16 vessels in active service by 2026.The corvettes are distinctly classified into two subclasses, the Arnala and Mahe class, each only having minor design differences. The Arnala-subclass was built by GRSE and L&T and are based with the Eastern Fleet while the Mahe-subclass was built by CSL and are based with the Western Fleet.[4]

History

Background

In December 2013, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) –- the main acquisition panel subordinate to India's Ministry of Defence (MoD), approved the procurement of sixteen anti-submarine warfare (ASW) vessels capable of operating in shallow waters, at a cost of Template:INRConvert, to replace the ageing Abhay-class corvettes of the Indian Navy – which were commissioned between 1989 and 1991.[5][6]

In June 2014, the MoD issued a tender, worth USD2.25 billion under the 'Buy and Make India' category to private-shipyards – including Larsen & Toubro (L&T), ABG Shipyard, Pipavav Defense and Offshore Engineering, Goa Shipyard (GSL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), for the procurement of the 16 anti-submarine vessels.[7]

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.[8]

Purchase

On 29 April 2019, the MoD and GRSE signed a contract valued at Template:INRConvert for eight anti-submarine vessels, to be delivered between 2022 and 2026.[9] The contract stipulated that the first vessel had to be delivered within 42 months of the date of signing, with the remaining seven vessels delivered at regular intervals.[10][11]

On 30 April 2019, the MoD and CSL signed a similar contract, valued at Template:INRConvert for the construction of the remaining eight vessels – within a deadline of 84 months.[12] 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.[13][14] CSL has partnered with Kakkanad-based Smart Engineering & Design Solutions (India) Pvt Ltd to design the ships and make them lighter than the Arnala class. By the development of the Mahe-class, SEDS has become India's first private firm to design warships for the Indian Navy.[3]

Construction

Arnala-class

GRSE formed a Public Private Partnership alliance with Larsen & Toubro involving its Kattupalli Shipyard to undertake the entire ASW SWC project along with the Survey Vessel (Large) Project.[15]

On 31 December 2020, GRSE initiated the construction of the stipulated vessels under its agreement with the steel-cutting ceremony of the first of the eight vessels at the Kattupalli Shipyard, near Chennai.[16][17]

In July 2021, GRSE initiated the construction of two more vessels under its contract, with their respective steel-cutting ceremonies,Template:Citation needed while the keel of the first vessels (which had begun construction in December, 2020) was laid on 6 August 2021.[15]

By March 2025, the Contractor Sea Trials (CST) of Template:INS and INS Androth was completed by GRSE along with Template:INS. As per a press release, "CST is considered the final stage of construction, when a vessel’s seaworthiness is tested". The release also stated that Arnala was to be delivered to the Navy soon.[18]

INS Arnala was delivered to the Indian Navy on 8 May 2025 at Kattupalli Shipyard.[19] The ship, named after Arnala fort, was to commissioned on 18 June 2025.[20] The ship has an indigenous content of over 88%[21] with equipment from Bharat Electronics, Mahindra Defence, and Larsen & Toubro among others.[22]

The last warship of the class, Ajay, was launched on 21 July 2025 by Priya Deshmukh, wife of Vice Admiral Kiran Deshmukh, Indian Navy's Chief of Materiel.[23][24] The second ship of the class, Androth, was delivered on 13 September 2025,[25][26][21] and commissioned on 6 October 2025 in Visakhapatnam.[27]

The third ship from GRSE lot, Anjadip, was delivered to the Indian Navy on 22 December 2025[28][29] and was commissioned on 27 February 2026.[30]

The fourth ship from this class, Agray, was laid down on 31 December 2022, and launched on 13 March 2024.[31] The ship was delivered to the Indian Navy on 30 March 2026[32] along with Template:INS and Template:INS.[33][34]

Mahe-class

On 1 December 2020, CSL initiated the project's construction, with the steel-cutting of the first ASW-SWC vessel, Mahe (BY 523) at Kochi.[35]

CSL initiated the steel-cutting of the fourth and fifth vessels of the series, on 1 December 2021.[36]

The deliveries of eight vessels by CSL is expected between August 2025 and June 2028.[37]

The first ship of the class, Mahe, was delivered to the Indian Navy on 23 October 2025[38] and was commissioned on 24 November 2025 at the Naval Dockyard (Mumbai).[39]

Design

The Cochin Shipyard (CSL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) were contracted for the design, development and construction of eight ships each.

The Arnala-class of ships were designed entirely by GRSE's in-house design team.[19] The shipyard also received the Raksha Mantri Award 2022 for designing "the most silent ship" of the Indian Navy. The award for the INS Arnala ship and the subsequent Arnala-class light corvettes.[40][41] The entire special quality low-magnetic steel for eight of the Arnala-class ships of GRSE have been supplied by SAIL from its steel plants in Bokaro, Bhilai and Rourkela.[42][43]

Arnala-class has a displacement of 900 tonnes[44] with a gross tonnage of 1,490 tonnes.[45] By dimensions, the ship measures Template:Convert by length and Template:Convert by width. Arnala offers a maximum speed of Template:Convert and a maximum range of Template:Convert at a speed of Template:Convert. The ships have a standard accommodation for seven officers and 50 sailors and has a provision to carry an RHIB.[46] The class of warships are designed and developed as per the classification rules of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS).[47]

Meanwhile, the Mahe-class of ships assigned to CSL were developed by a collaboration of two other entities.[48][49] The basic design of the ships have been sourced from Kochi-based Smart Engineering & Design Solutions (SDES) followed by detailed design by the shipyard. Additionally, Finland-based Surma provided the signature management software and design inputs for combat survivability features.[50] The ships are being constructed as per the classification rules of Det Norske Veritas (DNV).[51][52]

INS Mahe (P80) at sea

Mahe-class has a displacement of Template:Cvt.[53] By dimensions, the ship measures Template:Convert by length and Template:Convert by width with a draft of Template:Convert. The ships offers a maximum speed of Template:Convert and a maximum range of Template:Convert at a speed of Template:Convert with an endurance of 14 days.[54][55][56]

These classes are considered as the largest warship of the Indian Navy to be designed and propelled by pump-jet technology. The warships are equipped with three marine diesel engines, developing a power output of 6 MW,[56] coupled with a water jet each.[46] The vessels are also reported to possess several features of stealth – including a reduced radar cross-section (RCS), a low acoustic signature and a low infrared signature.[57] Both of the ship classes have indigenous content of over 80%, with equipment and materials being sourced from Bharat Electronics, Mahindra Defence, and Larsen & Toubro among others.[58][59]

While the majority of the specifications and configurations are similar, multiple design differences including the placement of the 30 mm gun deck, ASW rocket launcher mount and deflectors, main mast, funnel and LWT launcher along with hoist crane and the design of the stern.[55]

Armament

The weapons suite of the ships is designed to support its intended anti-submarine warfare operations in shallow waters. The anti-submarine weapons that equip the ship includes a forward-mounted RBU-6000, a triple 324 mm lightweight torpedo tube each on port and starboard equipped with Advanced Light-Weight Torpedo (ALWT) at the aft and anti-submarine mine-laying rails. Behind the torpedo tubes, two Mahindra Defence Systems-supplied[60][61][62] torpedo decoy launching systems (DLS), as a part of the Integrated Anti-Submarine Warfare Defence Suite (IADS).[46][55]

For surface warfare and self-defence, the ship employs a Naval Surface Gun (30 mm),[63] which serves the role of main gun as well as two OFT 12.7 mm M2 Stabilized Remote Controlled Gun (SRCG) as general-purpose machine guns. The SRCG is the Indian variant of Elbit Systems' Remote Controlled Naval Weapon Station (RCNWS).[64][55]

Sensors

As part of its sensor suite, the ships are equipped with Abhay compact active hull-mounted sonar (HMS), a towed low-frequency variable-depth sonar (LFVDS) procured from a joint venture firm between Indian CFF Fluid Control Ltd. and German Atlas Elektronik, a division of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) along with an underwater acoustic communication system (UWACS).[46][55]

The Abhay active sonar system — developed by DRDO's Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) and manufactured by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) — includes transducer array, data acquisition system, power amplifier and the dual multi-function console (DMFC). The system utilises advanced adaptive signal and information processing techniques to detect, track and classify of targets.[65] The compact system helps in the application of the systems onto smaller category of naval warships like Shallows Water Crafts, Light Frigates & Patrol Vessels by replacing legacy Russian sonar. Earlier, hull-mounted sonars were only limited to frigates and destroyers.[46]

Additionally, the Arnala-class corvettes are equipped with two navigation radars, an electronic warfare suite which employs Radar Electronic Support Measures (R-ESM) and Communications ESM (C-ESM) or COMINT and is equipped for Satellite Communications (SATCOM). As part of its network-centric warfare suite, the entire sensors and weapon suite is integrated into the combat management system (CMS) and the ship is equipped with integrated bridge system (IBS), an expandable bathy theromograph (XBT), an automatic identification system (AIS), an echo sounder and an automatic weather observation system (AWOS). The ship employs an integrated ASW complex (IAC) which computes fire control solutions and facilitates firing of ASW weapons including torpedoes and rockets. The IAC was developed by BEL and DRDO.[46]

The ships are also equipped with Electronic Support Measures (ESM), Electronics Intelligence (ELINT) and a combat management system.[55]

Capabilities

Being vessels primed for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), the ASW-SWC vessels were conceived to undertake multiple missions, including "search-and-attack-unit" (SAU) roles, low-intensity maritime operations (LIMO), subsurface surveillance in littoral-waters and coordinated ASW operations with maritime-patrol aircraft (MPA).[1] In addition, the vessels also possess the capability subsurface surveillance and interdiction, within the vicinity coastal waters.[20] The vessels can also be deployed for search-and-rescue (SAR) missions in littoral waters.[20][66] The corvettes are meant for operations within Template:Convert of the coastline.[67]

In their secondary role, the vessels will be able to lay mines, to protect domains of crucial importance, such as naval bases and commercial ports, from enemy submarines.[68]

Ships of the class

Name Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Builder Laid down Launched Delivered Commissioned Homeport Status
Arnala-class[69]
Template:INS P68 3029 L&T 6 August 2021[15] 20 December 2022[70] 8 May 2025[19] 18 June 2025[20] Visakhapatnam Active
Template:INS P73 3030 17 June 2022[71] 13 June 2023[31] 22 December 2025[28] 27 February 2026[30] Chennai
Amini P75 3031 16 November 2023[72] Launched
Abhay 3032 13 June 2023[31] 25 October 2024[73]
Template:INS P36 3033 GRSE 31 December 2022[74] 13 March 2024[75] 30 March 2026[32] Delivered
Template:INS P34 3034 10 May 2024[76] 21 July 2025[24]
Androth P69 3035[18] 21 December 2021[77] 21 March 2023[69] 13 September 2025[25] 6 October 2025[27] Visakhapatnam Active
Template:INS P35 3036 31 December 2022[74] 13 March 2024[75] Launched
Mahe-class
Template:INS P80[78] 523 CSL 30 August 2022[79] 30 November 2023[80][81] 23 October 2025[82][83] 24 November 2025[39][84] Mumbai Active
Template:INS P81 524 21 February 2023[85] 31 March

2026[86]

Delivered
Template:INS P82 525 Launched
Malpe P83 526 8 December 2023[87] 9 September 2024[88]
Mulki P84 527
Magdala P85[89] 528 16 December 2024[90] 18 October 2025[91]
Machilipatnam P86 529 29 January 2025[92] Under Construction
P87 530 29 May 2025[37] Template:Font color[37]

Template:Legend

  • INS Mulki and INS Malpe launched
    INS Mulki and INS Malpe launched
  • INS Arnala launch
    INS Arnala launch
  • INS Androth launch
    INS Androth launch
  • Androth during contractor trials.
    Androth during contractor trials.
  • INS Andoth During sea trials
    INS Andoth During sea trials
  • INS Anjadip Launched
    INS Anjadip Launched

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named naval-technology.com
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Cochin Shipyard from India holds steel cutting ceremony of Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts. Navy Recognition(December 2020).
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASWSWC)(May 9, 2019).
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named janes.com
  5. ↑ Four major acquisitions for the Navy and the Army approved. The Hindu(2013-12-24). Retrieved 2017-10-17.
  6. ↑ MoD clears Navy plans to get 16 shallow-water anti-sub vessels(25 December 2013).
  7. ↑ India issues $2.25bn tender to procure ASW shallow-water craft(June 18, 2014).
  8. ↑ Garden Reach Shipbuilders set to win ₹5,400-crore Navy order. @businessline(16 January 2018).
  9. ↑ GRSE signs contract for 8 anti-submarine warfare shallow water crafts for Indian Navy. The Economic Times(29 April 2019).
  10. ↑ GRSE signs contract for 8 anti-submarine warfare shallow water crafts for Indian Navy. The Economic Times(29 April 2019).
  11. ↑ 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 Template:Pipe Indian Navy. www.indiannavy.nic.in.
  12. ↑ GRSE Signs Contract for 08 Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Watercraft. psuwatch.com(29 April 2019).
  13. ↑ Cochin Shipyard gets Rs 6,311 crore contract for anti-submarine warfare ships. Business Today(30 April 2019).
  14. ↑ Cochin Shipyard gets ₹6,311 crore contract for anti-submarine warfare ships. mint(April 30, 2019).
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Template:Cite press release
  16. ↑ GRSE starts ASW-SWC corvette production in partnership with Larsen & Toubro. Janes(2021-01-04). Retrieved 2025-09-15.
  17. ↑ GRSE Starts ASW-SWC Corvette Production In Partnership With Larsen & Toubro. Indian Defence News(2021-01-06). Retrieved 2025-09-15.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 GRSE completes Contractor Sea Trials of two warships simultaneously. Press Information Bureau(2025-03-17). Retrieved 2025-03-19.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 Template:Cite press release
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 Template:Cite press release
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Template:Cite tweet
  22. ↑ Indian Navy set to commission ‘Arnala’, first in ASW-SWC series, Kumar, Anish(2025-06-06). Retrieved 2025-06-06.
  23. ↑ Defence Boost: Kolkata-Based Shipbuilder Launches 8th Anti-Submarine Craft for Indian Navy. Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2025-07-21.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Template:Cite press release
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Template:Cite press release
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  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Template:Cite press release
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Template:Cite press release
  29. ↑ Template:Cite press release
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Template:Cite press release
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 Template:Cite press release
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 Template:Cite press release
  33. ↑ 3 ships - Dunagiri, Sanshodhak, and Agray - handed over to Navy on Monday. BusinessLine(2026-03-30). Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  34. ↑ Navy gets three indigenous warships from GRSE, boost to self-reliance push. India Today(2026-03-30). Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  35. ↑ Indian ASW corvette programme cuts first steel - Shephard Media. www.shephardmedia.com.
  36. ↑ Template:Cite tweet
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 KEEL LAYING OF LAST SHIP (BY 530) OF ASW SWC (CSL) PROJECT. Press Information Bureau(2025-05-30). Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  38. ↑ Cochin Shipyard delivers first of eight warship 'Mahe' to Indian Navy(23 October 2025).
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 Aatmanirbhar Bharat boost: Navy commissions ‘silent hunter' INS Mahe; all about the anti-submarine warfare vessel. The Times of India(2025-11-24). Retrieved 2025-11-24.
  40. ↑ Raksha Mantri's Award. grse.in. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
  41. ↑ GRSE launches in-house designed second Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft. Press Information Bureau(2023-03-21). Retrieved 2025-06-26.
  42. ↑ Template:Cite press release
  43. ↑ Template:Cite press release
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  45. ↑ Template:Cite press release
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 46.2 46.3 46.4 46.5 India Commissions Its First ASW-SWC Corvette, Mitsopoulos, Dimitris. Naval News(2025-06-25). Retrieved 2025-06-26.
  47. ↑ Template:Cite press release
  48. ↑ Finnish DA-Group Participates in Indian Navy Project. Defense Media Network(2019-09-03). Retrieved 2025-11-27.
  49. ↑ Kochi firm first private entity in India to design Navy warship, Kuruvilla, Anu. The New Indian Express(2025-11-25). Retrieved 2025-11-27.
  50. ↑ Indian ASW corvette programme cuts first steel | Shephard, Mazumdar, Mrityunjoy. www.shephardmedia.com(2020-12-07). Retrieved 2025-10-19.
  51. ↑ CSL delivers warship INS Mahe to Indian Navy. The Hindu(2025-10-23). Retrieved 2025-10-23.
  52. ↑ Cochin Shipyard delivers first of eight warship 'Mahe' to Indian Navy. The Economic Times(2025-10-23). Retrieved 2025-10-23.
  53. ↑ Cochin Shipyard to launch three advanced vessels. The Hindu(2025-10-16). Retrieved 2025-10-24.
  54. ↑ Strategic significance of INS Mahe and why Navy is inducting 16 such ships. The Indian Express(2025-11-27). Retrieved 2025-11-27.
  55. ↑ 55.0 55.1 55.2 55.3 55.4 55.5 Indian Navy Commissions First ASW Craft Built by Cochin Shipyard, Menon, Adithya Krishna. Naval News(2025-11-27). Retrieved 2025-11-27.
  56. ↑ 56.0 56.1 Aatmanirbhar Bharat boost: Navy commissions ‘silent hunter' INS Mahe. The Times of India(2025-11-24). Retrieved 2025-11-27.
  57. ↑ ASW Shallow Water Craft - ASW-SWC. www.globalsecurity.org.
  58. ↑ Template:Cite press release
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  60. ↑ Template:Cite press release
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  62. ↑ Integrated Anti-Submarine Warfare Defense for Indian Navy, Staff, D. A.. Defense Advancement(2022-01-14). Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  63. ↑ In a major boost to Indian Navy's firepower, indigenous Naval Surface Gun aces sea trials. The Week. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
  64. ↑ India Commissions Its First ASW-SWC Corvette, Mitsopoulos, Dimitris. Naval News(2025-06-25). Retrieved 2025-06-26.
  65. ↑ India Commissions Its First ASW-SWC Corvette, Mitsopoulos, Dimitris. Naval News(2025-06-25). Retrieved 2025-06-26.
  66. ↑ Keels laid for Indian Navy's first ASWSWC and third large survey vessel. Janes.com.
  67. ↑ Details of GRSE's small anti-submarine corvette emerge - Shephard Media. www.shephardmedia.com.
  68. ↑ India building warships to hunt down subs close to its shores, Service, Tribune News. Tribuneindia News Service.
  69. ↑ 69.0 69.1 Template:Cite press release
  70. ↑ Template:Cite press release
  71. ↑ Template:Cite tweet
  72. ↑ LAUNCH OF ‘AMINI’, FOURTH SHIP OF ASW SWC (GRSE) PROJECT ON 16 NOV 23 AT M/s L&T, KATTUPALLI. Press Information Bureau. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
  73. ↑ LAUNCH OF ‘ABHAY’, SEVENTH SHIP OF ASW SWC (GRSE) PROJECT. Press Information Bureau(2024-10-25). Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  74. ↑ 74.0 74.1 Template:Cite press release
  75. ↑ 75.0 75.1 Template:Cite press release
  76. ↑ KEEL LAYING OF 8th ASW SWC (ex-GRSE) ON 10 MAY 24 AT M/S GRSE KOLKATA. pib.gov.in. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  77. ↑ Template:Cite press release
  78. ↑ Cochin Shipyard delivers first of eight warship 'Mahe' to Indian Navy. The Economic Times(2025-10-23). Retrieved 2025-10-23.
  79. ↑ Template:Cite press release
  80. ↑ Template:Cite press release
  81. ↑ Three anti-submarine warfare ships for Indian Navy launched at Cochin Shipyard. The Hindu(2023-11-30). Retrieved 2023-11-30.
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  83. ↑ CSL delivers warship INS Mahe to Indian Navy. The Hindu(2025-10-23). Retrieved 2025-10-23.
  84. ↑ Template:Cite press release
  85. ↑ Template:Cite press release
  86. ↑ Template:Cite press release
  87. ↑ KEEL LAYING OF FOURTH SHIP (BY 526, MALPE) AND FIFTH SHIP (BY 527, MULKI) OF ASW SWC PROJECT AT CSL, KOCHI ON 08 DEC 23. pib.gov.in. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  88. ↑ Indian Navy launches Anti-Submarine Warfare vessels Malpe and Mulki at Cochin Shipyard. The Economic Times(2024-09-10). Retrieved 2024-10-13.
  89. ↑ Template:Cite tweet
  90. ↑ KEEL LAYING OF SIXTH SHIP (BY 528, MAGDALA) OF ASW SWC PROJECT AT CSL, KOCHI. Press Information Bureau(16 December 2024). Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  91. ↑ Template:Cite press release
  92. ↑ KEEL LAYING OF SEVENTH SHIP (BY 529, MACHILIPATNAM) OF ASW SWC PROJECT AT CSL, KOCHI. Press Information Bureau(29 January 2025).

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