Kolkata, 22 December (H.S.) :

Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) achieved a major milestone on Monday with the delivery of its fifth warship of the year to the Indian Navy. The Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) Anjadip was handed over at the Chennai Port Trust, underscoring the shipyard’s accelerated production capability and growing role in strengthening India’s maritime defence.

Anjadip is the third vessel in a series of eight ASW SWCs being built by GRSE. With this delivery, Anjadip becomes the 115th warship constructed by the shipyard and the 77th warship delivered to the Indian Navy. The vessel was formally accepted by Rear Admiral Gautam Marwaha, VSM, Chief Staff Officer (Technical), Eastern Naval Command.

Earlier this year, GRSE had already delivered four major warships to the Navy, the Advanced Guided Missile Frigate Himgiri, the first two ASW SWCs Arnala and Androth, and the Survey Vessel (Large) Ikshak. All four have since been commissioned into active naval service, a rare achievement for any Indian shipyard within a single calendar year. Notably, Anjadip was delivered less than four months after Androth, highlighting GRSE’s capacity for rapid and sustained warship construction.

The delivery also reflects a strong push towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing. Like its sister ships, Anjadip is equipped with an indigenous 30 mm Naval Surface Gun manufactured by GRSE and has nearly 88 per cent indigenous content.

Designed for coastal defence, ASW SWCs are capable of full-scale sub-surface surveillance, search-and-attack missions, and coordinated anti-submarine operations alongside aircraft. The vessel is fitted with an advanced Combat Management System and is armed with lightweight torpedoes and anti-submarine warfare rockets. It can accommodate a crew of 57 personnel, including seven officers.

Powered by three water jets coupled with marine diesel engines, Anjadip is highly agile and manoeuvrable. With a shallow draught of just 2.7 metres, the vessel can operate close to the coastline, giving it a tactical advantage in detecting and neutralising sub-surface threats.

GRSE is currently constructing 12 additional warships, including two Project 17A advanced stealth frigates, five more ASW SWCs, a Survey Vessel (Large), and four Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels. Beyond naval platforms, the shipyard is also building multi-purpose vessels for a German client, research vessels, and hybrid ferries, and is expecting the conclusion of a contract for five New Generation Corvettes within the current financial year.

Founded in 1884 and taken over by the Government of India in 1960, GRSE is a Defence Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Defence and a Schedule ‘A’ Mini Ratna Category I company. The shipyard holds the distinction of building India’s first indigenous warship and has delivered more warships than any other Indian shipbuilder to date, reaffirming its standing as a key pillar of the country’s defence shipbuilding ecosystem.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh