Kolkata : The Indian Navy has received INS Androth, the second of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW SWCs) built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, enhancing its underwater and coastal capabilities.
Commissioned on September 13, INS Androth is indigenously designed and constructed as per the Classification Rules of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS). The ship is expected to bolster the Navy’s anti-submarine operations, coastal surveillance, and mine-laying capabilities.
Named after Androth Island in the Lakshadweep archipelago, the ship reflects India’s commitment to safeguarding its maritime territories. At approximately 77 meters in length, INS Androth is the largest Indian naval warship propelled by a Diesel Engine–Waterjet combination, and it is equipped with state-of-the-art lightweight torpedoes, indigenous ASW rockets, and advanced shallow-water SONAR for effective submarine detection and engagement in littoral zones.
The delivery of INS Androth marks a significant milestone in the Indian Navy’s drive towards indigenous shipbuilding and aligns with the government’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, with over 80% of the ship’s components sourced domestically. It underscores India’s efforts to reduce dependency on imports while strengthening national defence capabilities.
Defense officials have highlighted that such indigenous platforms are critical in ongoing reforms across India’s security apparatus, including the Army, Air Force, Navy, and other domains like space and cyber warfare. Following initiatives like Operation Sindoor, top defence leaders have repeatedly stressed the importance of self-reliance in defence, and the commissioning of INS Androth stands as a testament to these efforts.