23 February 2026·PIB

INDIAN NAVY TO COMMISSION ANJADIP

In this note

1. At a Glance

Anjadip is the third ship of the indigenous Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) project — an eight-ship class built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata [1][2].
Commissioned into the Eastern Naval Command at Chennai Port on 27 Feb 2026, ceremony presided by Adm Dinesh K Tripathi, CNS [1].
Showcases 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' in defence shipbuilding with >80% indigenous content and a GRSE–L&T Kattupalli Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model [2][3].
Relevance: GS-III (defence indigenisation, internal security), Prelims (defence platforms, ship-classes).

PIB release dated 23 Feb 2026 announced commissioning of Anjadip on 27 Feb 2026 at Chennai Port into Eastern Naval Command [1].
Follows commissioning of INS Arnala (first) and INS Androth (second) of the same class earlier in the series [4][5].

2019: MoD contract signed with GRSE for eight ASW-SWC vessels to replace ageing Abhay-class corvettes [2].
Build model: GRSE Kolkata builds 4; remaining 4 built under PPP with L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli (Tamil Nadu) as per Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) rules [2].
13 Jun 2023: Anjadip launched at L&T Kattupalli; keel of 7th ship laid same day [6].
22 Dec 2025: Anjadip delivered to Indian Navy at Chennai [2].
27 Feb 2026: Commissioned at Chennai Port [1].
Named after Anjadip Island (off Karwar coast, Karnataka) — continuing the practice of naming the class after Indian islands (Arnala, Androth, Anjadip, Agray, Akshay, Abhay, Ajay, Atulya).

Project: ASW-SWC (Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft), 8 ships [1].
Builder: GRSE Kolkata (with L&T Kattupalli under PPP) [2].
Ministry: Ministry of Defence (Department of Defence Production / Indian Navy) [1].
Length: 77 m; Displacement: ~1,400 tonnes [3].
Top speed: 25 knots; Propulsion: high-speed Water-Jet [2].
Sensors: indigenous Hull-Mounted Sonar 'Abhay' + Combat Management System [3].
Armament: Lightweight Torpedoes + ASW Rockets [3].
Indigenous content: >80%; uses SAIL DMR steel [3][7].
Command: Eastern Naval Command; Base port: Chennai (commissioning venue) [1].
Classification rules: Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) [2].

Strategic / Security

Plugs a critical gap in littoral / shallow-water ASW, where larger destroyers/frigates are unsuited; counters diesel-electric submarines and midget subs in coastal waters [1][3].
Bolsters Eastern Naval Command facing the Bay of Bengal–Indo-Pacific theatre amid growing PLA-Navy submarine activity in the IOR [1].

Economic / Indigenisation

>80% indigenous content supports the Aatmanirbhar Bharat & Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy (DPEPP) 2020 trajectory [3].
Uses DMR-grade steel by SAIL, deepening domestic warship-grade steel ecosystem [7].

Administrative / Governance

PPP shipbuilding (GRSE + L&T Kattupalli) demonstrates capacity sharing between Defence PSU and private yard — a template for future naval orders [2].

Scientific / Technological

Embarks indigenous Hull-Mounted Sonar 'Abhay' (developed by DRDO–NPOL); integrated CMS for sub-surface threat fusion [3].
Water-jet propulsion enables shallow-draught operations close to coast [2].

Anjadip is the 3rd of 8 ASW-SWC ships [1].
Built by GRSE Kolkata, with L&T Kattupalli (Tamil Nadu) as PPP partner [2].
Commissioned at Chennai Port on 27 Feb 2026 into Eastern Naval Command [1].
Ceremony presided by Adm Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff [1].
Length 77 m, displacement ~1,400 tonnes, top speed 25 knots [2][3].
Propulsion: Water-Jet (not gas-turbine, not conventional propeller-shaft) [2].
Primary sensor: Hull-Mounted Sonar 'Abhay' (DRDO-NPOL origin) [3].
Armament: Lightweight Torpedoes + ASW Rockets (no anti-ship missiles) [3].
Indigenous content >80%; hull steel from SAIL [3][7].
Classed as per Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) rules [2].
Sister ships in class (selected): Arnala, Androth, Anjadip, Agray, Akshay, Abhay, Ajay, Atulya — named after Indian islands [4][5][8].
Anjadip Island lies off Karwar (Karnataka) coast.

GS-III — Security: "Indigenisation of defence technology"; "Security challenges in maritime domain".
GS-III — Economy: "Defence manufacturing and PPP".
Question stems: 1. "Indigenous shallow-water ASW platforms like the ASW-SWC class are critical to coastal sub-surface defence. Discuss." 2. "PPP models in defence shipbuilding can accelerate naval modernisation. Examine with reference to the ASW-SWC project." 3. "Evaluate the role of DRDO-developed sensors (e.g., Abhay sonar) in achieving Aatmanirbhar Bharat in naval warfare."

Project 17A (Nilgiri-class frigates) — parallel indigenous frontline shipbuilding.
Project 75/75I submarines (Scorpene, Kalvari-class) — sub-surface counterpart.
DRDO-NPOL — naval sonar systems (Abhay, Humsa-NG, USHUS).
Aatmanirbhar Bharat in Defence / DPEPP 2020 — policy frame.
SAGAR doctrine & Indo-Pacific maritime strategy — operational rationale.
Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) — classification society.
Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) — Defence PSU profile.
Eastern Naval Command (Visakhapatnam HQ) — area of responsibility.

Class size = 8, not 16 (confusion with broader naval orders).
Anjadip is the 3rd ship — not 2nd (Androth) or 4th (Agray).
Built by GRSE (Kolkata DPSU), not Mazagon Dock or Cochin Shipyard; L&T is PPP partner, not prime.
Commissioned at Chennai into Eastern Naval Command, not Western Command.
Carries torpedoes + ASW rockets, not anti-ship cruise missiles (BrahMos).
Sonar 'Abhay' ≠ Abhay-class corvette (which is being replaced by ASW-SWC class).