NEW DELHI: The Navy is now set to commission the first of the 16 specialised small warships, designed for anti-submarine warfare and low-intensity maritime operations along the coast, being built at Indian shipyards at an overall cost of Rs 12,622 crore.The first anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft, built by Kolkata-based defence shipyard Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in collaboration with L&T Shipbuilders, will be commissioned as INS Arnala at Visakhapatnam in the presence of chief of defence staff General Anil Chauhan on June 18.The 77-metre-long craft, with a displacement of 1,490 tonne and equipped with state-of-the-art underwater sensors, is the largest Indian warship till now to be propelled by a diesel engine-waterjet combination.“The warship incorporates over 80% indigenous content and integrates advanced systems from leading Indian defence firms, including Bharat Electronics Limited, L&T and Mahindra Defence,” an officer said.GRSE and Cochin Shipyard are each building eight of these warships under twin Rs 6,311 crore contracts inked with them in April 2019. All the warships are supposed to be delivered by 2028.Named after the historic Arnala Fort off Vasai in Maharashtra, the first of these 16 warships reflects India’s rich maritime heritage.
