INS Arnala

• The Indian Navy launched INS Arnala on 20 December 2022 at Kattupalli, Chennai.

• Arnala is the first ship of the Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) project.

• Arnala has been built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) for the Indian Navy.

• Arnala was launched at a launch ceremony presided over by Rasika Choubey, Financial Adviser, Ministry of Defence.

• The ship is named Arnala to reflect the strategic maritime importance given to Arnala Island by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

• Arnala Island is located about 13 km north of Vasai in Maharashtra.

• The Ministry of Defense and GRSE, Kolkata had signed a contract for construction of eight ASW SWC ships in April 2019.

• The Arnala class ships will replace the Abhay class ASW ships of the Indian Navy.

• They are designed to conduct anti-submarine operations in coastal waters.