GRSE Launches Final Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft for Indian Navy
GRSE launched the eighth and final Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), INS Ajay, on 21 July 2025 at its shipyard in Kolkata. The ceremony was attended by Vice Admiral Kiran Deshmukh (Chief of Materiel, Indian Navy) and the vessel was formally christened by his wife, Mrs Priya Deshmukh. This completes the series of eight GRSE-built ASW-SWC ships. The new vessel is named in honour of the Indian Navy’s first indigenously built warship (patrol vessel INS Ajay, also built by GRSE in 1961).
GRSE had won the tender for this project when the Ministry of Defence signed a ₹6,311.32-crore contract in April 2019 to build eight ASW-SWC corvettes for the Navy. The RFP was issued in 2014, and GRSE emerged as the successful bidder. Under the contract, the first ship was due roughly 42 months after signing, with two ships per year thereafter. Since then all eight ships of the class have now been launched. The production and commissioning schedule was extended, and the lead ship, INS Arnala, was commissioned on 18 June 2025. The second vessel is due to be delivered in August 2025.
Each ASW-SWC corvette is about 77.6 m long with a low draft and displaces roughly 750–900 tonnes. Powered by diesel engines and water-jet propulsion, the ships can reach speeds of around 25 knots. They possess offensive weapons, including lightweight torpedoes and anti-submarine rocket launchers. Each ship is also equipped with a 30mm close-in weapon system and twin 12.7mm remote-control guns. The vessels can perform search-and-rescue and other patrol duties in coastal waters besides their primary ASW role.
Defence Ministry noted that over 80% of the ship’s content is indigenous, exemplifying India’s “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India) and “Make in India” initiatives. Vice Admiral Deshmukh praised GRSE’s progress and noted that the yard has built more than 110 warships for the Navy to date.
GRSE, a Kolkata-based defence shipyard, has been a leading builder of Indian warships since 1960. It has delivered well over a hundred vessels from advanced frigates and corvettes to tankers and patrol craft, to the Navy and Coast Guard. Today, GRSE has 16 ships under construction, including modern Project 17A frigates and large survey vessels. Its chairman, Commodore P.R. Hari (Retd.), says the yard is confident of delivering “a hundred warships” to the Navy within the next decade. The INS Ajay thus highlights GRSE’s continuing role in strengthening India’s maritime capabilities with indigenous technology.