The Indian Navy has received ‘INS Androth’, the second in a series of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW SWCs), signalling a major boost to its underwater and coastal defence capabilities.
The vessel, designed and constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata, was formally handed over on September 13.
According to naval officials, this milestone marks progress toward self-reliance in defence production and reflects India’s focus on developing advanced, indigenous platforms for maritime security.
INS Androth derives its name from Androth Island in the Lakshadweep archipelago, underscoring India’s commitment to safeguarding its maritime frontiers.
The ship, at approximately 77 metres in length, is the largest Indian Naval warship to employ a diesel engine and waterjet propulsion system.
State-of-the-art lightweight torpedoes, indigenously developed ASW rockets and advanced shallow-water sonar equip the vessel, enabling it to detect and engage submarines effectively in littoral waters.
This technology strengthens the Navy’s anti-submarine, coastal surveillance and mine-laying operations.
A Step Forward in Indigenous Defence Manufacturing
Domestic suppliers provide more than 80 per cent of the vessel’s components, making INS Androth a tangible example of the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Naval spokespersons stressed that this delivery reflects growing domestic capability and reduced reliance on imported equipment.
The ship’s arrival comes at a time when India’s security apparatus, spanning the Army, Navy, Air Force, and new warfare domains such as cyber and space, is undergoing significant modernisation, with an emphasis on indigenous procurement and technology development.
Following Operation Sindoor, senior defence leaders, including the Chiefs of the Army, Air Force and Navy, as well as the Chief of Defence Staff, reaffirmed the importance of self-reliance in the sector.
INS Androth represents a continuation of that vision by bolstering indigenous shipbuilding capacity and enhancing operational readiness along India’s coasts.
This vessel’s commissioning reinforces naval capability and declares India’s defence sector’s growing ability to meet strategic needs with home-grown solutions.
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