Indian Navy's final Arnala-class corvette floated out

India's Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) floated out a future Indian Navy corvette during a ceremony on Monday, July 21.

The future INS Ajay is the final one of eight Arnala-class anti-submarine warfare shallow-water craft (ASW SWC) to be built by GRSE for the Indian Navy. Class lead ship INS Arnala was commissioned into service in June 2025.

Upon completion, the ASW SWC will have a length of 77.6 metres, a beam of 11.26 metres, a draught of only 2.7 metres, a displacement of 900 tons, a gross tonnage of 1,490, and space for seven officers and 50 enlisted sailors.

The propulsion arrangement will consist of three diesel engines and waterjets capable of delivering a top speed of 25 knots and a range of 1,800 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 14 knots. The dimensions make the Arnala-class ASW SWCs the largest waterjet-equipped vessels to be acquired by the Indian Navy.

The vessel will feature armament consisting of lightweight torpedoes launched from port and starboard triple tubes, ASW rockets fired from a forward-mounted RBU-6000 launcher, a GRSE-developed 30mm naval gun, and two Browning M2 12.7mm machine guns fitted on remote controlled stabilised mounts.

The future Ajay will also be capable of full-scale, sub-surface surveillance of coastal waters and up to 200 nautical miles from shore as well as search and attack. The vessel will also carry out ASW operations in coordination with aircraft.

Secondary missions will include search and rescue, port protection minelaying, and limited air defence.