Indian Navy Commissions its Second Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft – INS Androth
The Indian Navy commissioned its second state-of-the-art Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), INS Androth, at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam on 6 October. The commissioning ceremony was presided over by Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command.
The Ministry of Defence signed a contract for eight ASW-SWCs with Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers on April 29, 2025. The first ship of the class, INS Arnala, was commissioned on June 18, as part of the Eastern fleet of the Indian Navy. INS Androth is the second of the Arnala class ASW-SWC built by GRSE. The keel for Androth was laid on December 21, 2021, with the launching of the ship on March 21, 2023. The ship was delivered to the Indian Navy on September 13, 2025.
About INS Androth
The name ‘Androth’ holds strategic and symbolic significance, derived from Androth Island in the Lakshadweep archipelago, underscoring India’s commitment to safeguarding its vast maritime territories.
INS Androth has a length of 77.6m, a beam of 10.5m, and a draft of 2.7m. It displaces 900 tonnes with a gross tonnage of over 1,490 tonnes; it is the largest Indian Naval warship to be propelled by a Diesel Engine-Waterjet combination. It has a maximum speed of 25 knots and a maximum range of 1,800 nautical miles at 14 knots. It has an ASW Indigenous Rocket Launcher (IRL), one 30mm Naval Surface Gun, ASW Mines, and torpedo launchers.
Fitted with advanced weapons and sensor suites, modern communication systems, and waterjet propulsion, Androth is equipped to detect, track, and neutralise underwater threats with precision. Its also able to undertake maritime surveillance, Search and Rescue operations, and coastal defence missions across the spectrum of threats.