Institutional Background
- INS Arnala is part of the Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft programme of the Indian Navy.
- Constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers under a 2019 Ministry of Defence contract.
- Reflects India’s emphasis on indigenisation in naval shipbuilding.
Strategic Rationale
- Designed to counter submarine threats in littoral and near-shore environments.
- Addresses increasing underwater domain challenges in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal.
- Enhances protection of coastal infrastructure and naval bases.
Technical and Operational Architecture
- Approximately 77 metres in length with waterjet propulsion.
- Optimised for shallow-draft operations.
- Equipped with hull-mounted sonar and low-frequency variable depth sonar for layered detection.
- Integrated combat management system for coordinated anti-submarine engagement.
Defence Significance
- Strengthens India’s anti-submarine grid in coastal waters.
- Complements larger frigates and corvettes in layered maritime defence.
- Supports maritime domain awareness and joint operations with naval aviation.
