Indian Navy and GRSE officials during the handing over of Androth. (Photo: Indian Navy)
New Delhi: The Indian Navy received its second indigenous anti-submarine warfare shallow-water craft (ASW-SWC) on Saturday, with Androth joining the fleet just four months after the commissioning of its sister ship INS Arnala. The delivery from Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) marks a significant step in India’s push for maritime self-reliance amid growing underwater threats in the Indian Ocean.
Named after an island in the Lakshadweep archipelago, Androth is part of a broader 16-vessel programme worth ₹12,622 crore designed to counter submarine activities in coastal waters where larger warships cannot operate effectively. The timing is particularly significant given China’s expanding naval presence in the Indian Ocean and Pakistan’s submarine modernisation with Chinese assistance.
The 77.6-metre vessel represents the largest Indian naval warship powered by a diesel engine-waterjet propulsion system. With a shallow draught of just 2.7 metres, it can access littoral zones that remain off-limits to conventional warships, providing crucial tactical flexibility in anti-submarine operations.
Advanced indigenous capabilities
Androth features over 80% indigenous content, showcasing India’s growing defence manufacturing capabilities under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The vessel’s weapons suite includes lightweight torpedoes, indigenous anti-submarine rockets, and a 30mm naval surface gun manufactured by GRSE. Twin 12.7mm guns with stabilized optronic systems and mine-laying capabilities complete its armament.
The ship’s sensor systems include advanced shallow-water sonar, hull-mounted sonar, and low-frequency variable depth sonar specifically designed for littoral submarine detection. Electronic warfare capabilities encompass radar and communications intelligence systems – all integrated through a sophisticated combat management system.
GRSE has achieved recognition for designing “the most silent ship” in the Navy, with the vessel incorporating special low-magnetic steel from SAIL and advanced stealth features to reduce its radar and acoustic signatures.
Regional security implications
The vessel’s induction comes as India faces evolving submarine threats from multiple directions. Pakistan has acquired eight Chinese Type 039B Hangor-class submarines, while China has deployed advanced unmanned submarines in the Indian Ocean as part of its broader “String of Pearls” strategy.
India’s parliamentary committee on external affairs has specifically highlighted the need for proactive measures against the combined naval threat from China and Pakistan. The country’s anti-submarine warfare network now includes 12 Boeing P-8I Poseidon aircraft, Kamorta-class corvettes, MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, and the new Arnala-class shallow-water craft.
The Lakshadweep islands, from which the ship derives its name, provide India with approximately 20,000 square kilometres of territorial waters and 400,000 square kilometres of exclusive economic zone, making them vital for controlling sea lanes in the Arabian Sea.
Production schedule
Eight vessels are being built by GRSE under the Arnala class, with the remaining eight under construction by Cochin Shipyard Limited as the Mahe class. GRSE expects to complete all eight vessels by 2026, with the eighth ship, INS Ajay, already launched in July.
The 900-tonne vessel can accommodate 57 personnel, including seven officers, and is designed for multiple roles beyond anti-submarine warfare, including coastal surveillance, search and rescue, and low-intensity maritime operations. Its propulsion system of three diesel engines connected to water jets provides a maximum speed of 25 knots and an operational range exceeding 1,800 nautical miles.
The success of the programme has positioned Indian shipyards for future contracts, with GRSE recently emerging as the lowest bidder for the next-generation corvettes programme worth approximately ₹25,000 crore. The high indigenous content has created employment opportunities and established supply chains for critical naval systems, involving companies such as Bharat Electronics Limited, Mahindra Defence, and Larsen & Toubro.
GRSE has consistently achieved 72% indigenous content across its projects and has diversified into research vessels, patrol boats, and infrastructure projects, demonstrating the broader industrial impact of naval shipbuilding programmes.
The delivery of Androth strengthens India’s coastal defence architecture at a time when submarine threats in the Indian Ocean region continue to evolve, providing the Navy with enhanced capability to detect and neutralize underwater threats in crucial shallow-water zones.
Androth is expected to be commissioned within this year, following which it will be christened of INS (Indian Naval Ship) Androth.
