'Amini' Joins Indian Navy Fleet

• 20 Nov 2023

Recently, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) launched 'Amini,' the fourth vessel in the Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) series, at Kattupalli in Tamil Nadu. Vice Admiral Sandeep Naithani, Chief of Materiel, presided over the launch ceremony.

Key Points

• Strategic Significance: Named 'Amini,' the ship symbolizes the strategic maritime importance of Amini Island in Lakshadweep, situated about 400 km west of Kochi.
• Vessel Specifications: The ASW SWC ships are 77m long, with a displacement of 900 tons, boasting a maximum speed of 25 knots and an endurance of approximately 1800 NM.
• Indigenous Shipbuilding Strides: Launched within a year of the third ship, this marks significant progress in indigenous shipbuilding, contributing to the vision of AatmaNirbhar Bharat.
• Contract: The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract with GRSE on April 29, 2019, for constructing eight ASW SWC ships.
• Four are built at GRSE, Kolkata, and the remaining are subcontracted to L&T Shipbuilding, Kattupalli, for hull and part outfitting.
• Mission Capabilities: Part of the Arnala class, these ships will replace the Abhay class ASW Corvettes, designed for anti-submarine operations in coastal waters, Low-Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO), and Mine Laying Operations.
• Delivery Timeline: The first ship from the project is expected to be delivered in early 2024.
• Indigenous Content: With over 80% indigenous content, the ASW SWC ships contribute to large-scale defence production within the country, fostering employment and enhancing capabilities.