Katupalli: Anjadip, the 3rd of eight ships of the Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) Project was launched here today. The launch ceremony was presided over by Vice Admiral R B Pandit, Commander-in-Chief (SFC). The ship was launched to the chanting of invocation from Atharva Veda.
The ship has been named Anjadip to signify the strategic maritime importance accorded to the island of Anjadip, located off Karwar. The island is connected to the mainland by a breakwater and is part of INS Kadamba. On completion of the event, Vice Admiral R B Pandit also laid the keel for the 7th ASW-SWC ship.
The ships are being built by GRSE for Indian Navy. The contract for building eight ASW-SWC ships was signed between the Ministry of Defence and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata on April 29, 2019. As per the build strategy, four ships are being built at GRSE, Kolkata and the construction of the balance four ships has been subcontracted to L&T Shipbuilding, Kattupalli.
Arnala class of ships will replace the in-service Abhay class ASW Corvettes of the Indian Navy and are designed to undertake anti-submarine operations in coastal waters, Low-Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO), and Mine Laying operations including subsurface surveillance in littoral waters. The 77 m long ASW-SWC ships have a displacement of 900 tons with a maximum speed of 25 knots and endurance of 1800 NM.
“The launch of three ships of the same class in a span of six months reinforces our resolve towards indigenous shipbuilding as part of the Government’s vision of ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat’”, the Ministry of Defence stated.
The first ship of the project is planned to be delivered to Indian Navy by December 2023. The ASW-SWC ships will have over 80% indigenous content, thereby ensuring that large-scale defence production is executed by Indian manufacturing units, generating employment and capability enhancement within the country.
– global bihari bureau