The Indian Navy has recently added the indigenously built Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Shallow Water Craft (SWC) 'Androth' to its fleet, marking a significant stride in enhancing its anti-submarine and coastal surveillance capabilities. The ship was delivered to the Navy on Saturday, September 13, 2025, by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd, Kolkata. This is the second of eight ASW SWCs being built by GRSE for the Indian Navy. The first warship of this series, INS Arnala, was delivered on May 8, 2025, and commissioned into the Navy on June 18, 2025.

Key Features and Capabilities

Named after Androth Island in the Lakshadweep archipelago, the ASW SWC is approximately 77 meters long and represents a notable advancement in India's indigenous warship production. These ships are the largest Indian Naval warships propelled by a Diesel Engine-Waterjet combination. The ship is powered by three diesel-driven water jets, enabling it to attain a maximum speed of 25 knots. With a draught of only 2.7 meters, the ship can easily access coastal waters to search for subsurface threats.

The 'Androth' is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including lightweight torpedoes, indigenous ASW rockets, and advanced shallow water SONAR, which enables effective submarine detection and engagement in littoral zones. It is also fitted with hull-mounted sonar and a low-frequency variable depth sonar. Furthermore, the ship boasts a close-in weapon system with a 30mm gun and 16.7mm stabilized remote-controlled guns. Notably, 'Androth' is the second warship of its class to feature an indigenous 30 mm Naval Surface Gun (NSG), manufactured by GRSE.

The ASW SWC is designed to conduct anti-submarine operations in coastal waters, low-intensity maritime operations, and mine-laying operations. It is capable of full-scale subsurface surveillance of coastal waters and various surface platforms and can coordinate with aircraft in ASW operations. The ship has a complement of 57 personnel, including seven officers. The vessel also has Combat Management Systems onboard.

Significance and "Aatmanirbhar Bharat"

The commissioning of 'Androth' is a significant milestone in the Indian Navy's pursuit of indigenous shipbuilding, furthering the government's vision of "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" (self-reliant India). With over 80 percent indigenous content, the ship exemplifies the growing domestic capabilities and reduced dependency on imports. The Indian Navy has been focusing its indigenization efforts in the domains of propulsion, power generation, weapons and sensors.

The Indian Navy has 262 indigenous projects under the advanced stage. The Indian shipbuilding industry has come of age, with 63 out of 65 Indian Navy ships under construction currently being built at Indian shipyards, transforming the Indian Navy into a "Builder's Navy".

GRSE's Contribution

GRSE has been a key partner in India's indigenization drive, with nearly 88% indigenous content in the ASW SWCs. The delivery of 'Androth' comes just four months after the delivery of the first warship of this series, 'Arnala'. The Indian Navy had placed an order for 16 Advanced Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASWSWCs), with eight to be built by GRSE and another eight by another Indian shipyard.

Looking Ahead

The addition of 'Androth' to the Indian Navy's fleet enhances its capabilities in anti-submarine warfare, coastal surveillance, and mine-laying operations, reinforcing India's commitment to maritime security. The Navy is also advancing on next-generation destroyers, with four P-18 vessels poised for approval. These vessels will be the largest surface combatants ever built in India, potentially classifying them as cruisers. The Indian Navy aims to have a fleet of 170-175 warships by 2035, including a mix of destroyers and frigates armed with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.