🗞️ Why in News INS Anjadip, the fourth vessel of India’s Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) programme, was commissioned into the Indian Navy at Chennai Port on February 27-28, 2026, by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi — marking a milestone in India’s indigenous naval construction.

Anti-Submarine Warfare — Why It Matters

Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) is the complex of naval tactics, technologies, and strategies designed to detect, track, and neutralise hostile submarines. As India’s maritime environment grows more contested — particularly with the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) expanding its submarine operations in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) — ASW capability is a national security priority.

Shallow Water Complexity

Shallow water ASW (in littoral zones — coastal waters up to ~200 metres deep) is significantly more difficult than deep-water ASW because:

  • Sound propagates differently in shallow water (refracts off the seabed)
  • Background noise from shipping, marine life, and coastal activity is higher
  • Traditional deep-water ASW sonar is less effective
  • Dedicated shallow-water platforms with specialised sonar suites are required

The ASW-SWC programme was designed specifically for this littoral environment.

The ASW-SWC Programme

The Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) programme is an Indian Navy initiative to build a fleet of 16 indigenous vessels for coastal and shallow-water submarine detection.

Build Partners

  • Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata — Lead shipyard; public sector
  • Larsen & Toubro Shipbuilding, Kattupalli (near Chennai) — Private sector partner

This dual-yard approach maximises build rate and promotes both public and private sector shipbuilding capacity — aligned with the ‘Make in India’ defence manufacturing policy.

Fleet Naming Convention

ASW-SWC vessels are named after Indian islands:

  • INS Arnala (Arnala Island, Maharashtra) — 1st vessel
  • INS Androth (Androth Island, Lakshadweep) — 2nd vessel
  • INS Akshay (Andaman & Nicobar Islands) — 3rd vessel
  • INS Anjadip (Anjadip Island, near Karwar, Karnataka) — 4th vessel

INS Anjadip — Technical Specifications

Parameter Specification
Length 77 metres
Displacement ~1,400 tonnes
Indigenous content Over 80%
Mission Shallow water ASW
Builders GRSE + L&T Shipbuilding

Systems Onboard

  • Advanced ASW suite: Hull-mounted sonar and towed array sonar for underwater threat detection
  • Combat Management System (CMS): Integrates sensor and weapon data for real-time threat assessment
  • Weapon systems: Torpedo launchers, depth charges, and light naval gun
  • Propulsion: Designed for sustained coastal patrol speeds

Commissioning Ceremony

Location: Chennai Port (Tamil Nadu) Presiding officer: Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi — Chief of Naval Staff Host commander: Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla — Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command

INS Anjadip operates under Flag Officer Commanding Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Naval Area (FOTNA).

India’s Naval Indigenisation Drive

Shipbuilding Achievements (2014–2026)

The government has consistently pushed naval indigenisation under the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020, which mandates minimum indigenous content thresholds for defence procurement. Notable milestones:

  • INS Vikrant (IAC-1) — First indigenous aircraft carrier (commissioned 2022)
  • INS Nilgiri — First P17A stealth frigate (2024)
  • INS Vela, INS Vagir — Indigenous Scorpene-class submarines (Kalvari class)
  • ASW-SWC fleet (ongoing)

GRSE — Key Facts

Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) is a Kolkata-based PSU under Ministry of Defence. It is India’s leading warship builder, having delivered over 100 naval vessels. It also builds Bailey bridges and deck machinery.

UPSC Relevance

Prelims: ASW-SWC programme, GRSE, INS Anjadip, INS Arnala, Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, littoral warfare. Mains GS-3: Indigenous defence manufacturing; naval modernisation; Make in India in defence; IOR security. Interview: India’s submarine threat perception in the Indian Ocean Region.

📌 Facts Corner — Knowledgepedia

INS Anjadip — Core Data:

  • Programme: Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC)
  • Sequence: 4th vessel in the programme
  • Named after: Anjadip Island, near Karwar, Karnataka
  • Commissioned: February 2026 at Chennai Port
  • Length: 77 m; Displacement: ~1,400 tonnes
  • Indigenous content: >80%
  • Builders: GRSE Kolkata (public) + L&T Shipbuilding Kattupalli (private)

ASW-SWC Fleet:

  • INS Arnala (1st, Arnala Island, Maharashtra), INS Androth (2nd, Lakshadweep), INS Akshay (3rd, Andaman & Nicobar), INS Anjadip (4th, near Karwar, Karnataka)
  • Total programme: 16 vessels planned
  • Purpose: Detect/neutralise submarines in shallow coastal waters

Key Personnel:

  • CNS: Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi
  • Eastern Naval Command: Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla
  • FOTNA: Flag Officer Commanding Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Naval Area

GRSE — Key Facts:

  • Full form: Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers
  • Location: Kolkata, West Bengal
  • Type: PSU under Ministry of Defence
  • Notable: Over 100 warships delivered; also builds Bailey bridges and deck machinery

India Naval Milestones:

  • INS Vikrant (IAC-1): First indigenous aircraft carrier, commissioned 2022
  • INS Nilgiri: First P17A stealth frigate (2024)
  • Kalvari class: 6 Scorpene-class submarines (indigenous build, DCNS design)
  • DAP 2020: Defence Acquisition Procedure mandating indigenous content thresholds

Other Relevant Facts:

  • Littoral zone: Coastal waters generally up to 200 m depth; complex ASW environment
  • IOR (Indian Ocean Region): India’s strategic sphere; PLAN (China) increasing submarine patrols
  • PLAN has world’s largest navy by number of vessels; growing blue-water capability
  • India’s “Make in India” defence target: 70% procurement from domestic sources by 2025

Sources: PIB, Indian Navy