Navy set to commission anti-submarine warfare ship Arnala on June 18, Pg5

• INS Arnala, the first of 16 Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) ships, will be commissioned on June 18 at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam.

  • Designed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) and built in partnership with L&T Shipbuilders.

  • The ship is 77 metres long, weighs over 1,490 tonnes, and is the largest Indian naval ship powered by a diesel engine-waterjet combination.

  • More than 80% indigenous content, highlighting the success of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

  • The ship is equipped for anti-submarine warfare, sub-surface surveillance, search and rescue (SAR), and low-intensity maritime operations.

  • The commissioning will be presided over by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan.

  Detailed Insights:

1. Strategic Significance: The induction of INS Arnala boosts Indias maritime security, particularly in coastal and shallow waters prone to submarine threats.
2. Naval Modernisation: INS Arnala is part of a broader ASW-SWC programme aimed at strengthening the Navys ability to counter underwater threats.
3. Public-Private Partnership: Collaboration between GRSE and L&T reflects the evolving model of defence manufacturing under the Make in India initiative.
4. Regional Relevance: Enhances Indias surveillance and operational capabilities in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), amid rising concerns over Chinese naval activity. Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW): A set of tactics and equipment used to detect, track, and neutralise enemy submarines.
• Diesel Engine-Waterjet Propulsion: A propulsion system that uses waterjets powered by diesel engines, offering greater manoeuvrability and speed in shallow waters.

Mains Mock Question:

Indigenisation in defence manufacturing is a strategic imperative for Indias security. Discuss with reference to the commissioning of INS Arnala.