The Arnala-class is a series of indigenous anti-submarine warfare shallow-water craft (ASW-SWC) built for the Indian Navy by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T), designed to hunt submarines and provide coastal security in shallow littoral waters where larger ASW frigates and corvettes cannot effectively operate.[1]
Arnala-class vessels measure 77.6 m in length with an 11.26 m beam and 2.7 m draught, displacing about 900 tons, with berths for 7 officers and 50 sailors. Propelled by three diesel engines driving waterjets, the class reaches a top speed of 25 knots with a range of 1,800 nautical miles at a 14-knot cruising speed.[1]
Arnala-class ships are capable of full-scale sub-surface surveillance of coastal waters out to 200 nautical miles from shore, conducting search-and-attack operations and coordinated ASW missions with aircraft. Secondary roles include search and rescue, port protection, mine-laying, and limited air defence. Armament includes lightweight torpedoes fired from port/starboard triple tubes, RBU-6000 forward-mounted ASW rocket launchers, and a GRSE-developed 30 mm naval gun.[1]
Sixteen ASW-SWC vessels are being built in total: eight Arnala-class ships by GRSE/L&T and eight Mahe-class sister ships by Cochin Shipyard Limited, each with over 80% indigenous content, as part of India’s push to build a comprehensive layered shallow-water ASW network along its coastline.[2]
| Type | Anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft (ASW-SWC) |
| Builders | GRSE, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) |
| Displacement | ~900 t |
| Length / Beam / Draught | 77.6 m / 11.26 m / 2.7 m |
| Speed / Range | 25 knots / 1,800 nm at 14 knots |
| Complement | 57 (7 officers) |
| Armament | Lightweight torpedoes, RBU-6000, 30 mm gun |
| Indigenous content | 80%+ |
| Sister class | Mahe-class (Cochin Shipyard) |