The Indian Navy is poised to welcome its next-generation advanced submarine hunter, the Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), named INS Arnala. This formidable vessel is being jointly constructed by Kolkata's Garden Reach Shipbuilders, Cochin Shipyard, and Larsen & Toubro.
Under a project worth ₹12,622 crores, 16 warships will be built. The first warship, INS Arnala, will embark on sea trials very soon. This is a corvette-class warship with a displacement of 900 tonnes.
It is approximately 255 feet long and its beam is 34 feet. It will attain a maximum speed of 46 kilometers per hour. In the next few months, it may be handed over to the Navy.
Key Features of INS Arnala
- Capacity: Can deploy 7 officers and 57 sailors
- Range: 3300 kilometers.
- Combat Management: Equipped with an ASW Combat Suite that will prepare weapons for countering enemy attacks and monitor them. It also has four types of management systems that will help keep the warship safe during combat.
- Armament:
- Fully equipped with rockets, anti-submarine weapons, and sea mines.
- One RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launcher. This is a 213-millimeter anti-submarine rocket system that fires rockets in rapid succession at enemy submarines.
- Six lightweight ASW torpedoes will be installed.
- It will carry anti-submarine sea mines
Additional Weaponry
- A 30-millimeter CRN-91 naval gun. This automatic gun can fire 550 bullets every minute – effectively turning enemy ships into sieves. It has a range of 4 kilometers.
- Two OFT 12.7-millimeter M2 stabilized remote-controlled guns.
Significance
INS Arnala will be the Indian Navy's largest warship with a water jet propulsion system.The arrival of INS Arnala marks a significant step forward in India's defense capabilities, particularly in its ability to counter underwater threats in shallow coastal waters. With its advanced weaponry, sophisticated sensors, and robust design, INS Arnala is poised to play a crucial role in safeguarding India's maritime interests.
