The Indian Navy is set to achieve a powerful milestone today with the commissioning of INS Androth, the second Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC). The event is being held at the Visakhapatnam Naval Dockyard, one of the Navy’s most important operational hubs on the eastern coast. This day highlights India’s growing strength at sea and the country’s consistent focus on self-reliance in defense production.
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The new ship, Androth, is designed by the Indian Navy to detect and destroy enemy submarines operating in shallow and coastal waters. Its commissioning will enhance India’s maritime protection network and ensure better surveillance of the Indian Ocean Region, where undersea threats are often challenging to track.
The induction of Androth into the Indian Navy follows a series of recent fleet additions, including advanced vessels such as Arnala, Nistar, Udaygiri, and Nilgiri. Each of these ships has been designed to strengthen India’s maritime preparedness and showcases the progress of indigenous shipbuilding technology. These additions are part of the Navy’s balanced strategy to ensure operational readiness across air, surface, and underwater missions.
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With Androth joining active service, the Indian Navy continues to demonstrate its focus on modernization, operational flexibility, and homegrown defense capability. This milestone reflects the Navy’s dedication to protecting India’s long coastline and economic interests at sea.
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Androth has been built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), a prominent shipbuilding company based in Kolkata. GRSE has been a vital partner in the Indian Navy’s long-term modernization efforts, and Androth represents another successful collaboration between the Navy and India’s domestic defense industry.
Over 80% of Androth’s components have been sourced from within the country, highlighting the Navy’s commitment to indigenization. This makes Androth not only a capable naval asset but also a symbol of India’s Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in defense. The Indian Navy has made it a priority to use domestically produced technology, materials, and systems in new vessels. From its advanced communication equipment to propulsion systems, most elements of Androth are proudly made in India.
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This focus on indigenous production supports India’s industrial ecosystem by creating jobs, developing new skills, and encouraging local innovation. The Indian Navy’s approach ensures that maintenance, spare parts, and upgrades remain accessible within the country, reducing dependency on imports and foreign vendors. This has helped build a stronger foundation for India’s defense manufacturing sector.
Designed to operate in coastal and shallow waters, Androth has a compact build and agile design, making it ideal for anti-submarine warfare in regions where larger vessels face limitations. Its structure allows for fast maneuverability and efficient tracking of submarines that operate close to the seabed.
Strengthening Indian Navy’s Maritime Defense Capabilities
The induction of Androth adds significant power to the Indian Navy’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities. Submarines are among the hardest threats to detect and counter in modern naval warfare. To handle such challenges, Androth comes equipped with advanced sonar systems and sensors that can detect submarine activity in shallow waters. Its onboard weapons can swiftly respond to any underwater threat, ensuring the safety of India’s coastal zones.
This vessel will play an important role in enhancing the Indian Navy’s operational readiness in the littoral zones — areas near the shore that are vital for trade and security. Its advanced equipment and trained crew make it capable of responding rapidly to undersea intrusions or potential hazards.
The commissioning of Androth fits perfectly within the Navy’s broader modernization program. Each new vessel added to the fleet addresses a specific operational requirement, helping the Indian Navy maintain a well-balanced force. From surface combatants to patrol vessels and submarines, this diversification ensures that India remains prepared for any maritime challenge.
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The induction also highlights India’s capacity to design, develop, and build technologically advanced warships within its own shipyards. Androth’s commissioning at the Visakhapatnam Dockyard stands as a symbol of India’s rising maritime capabilities and the dedication of the Indian Navy to safeguard national waters.
Every new ship like Androth strengthens the Navy’s surveillance reach and anti-submarine capabilities, making India’s coastal waters safer and more secure. The Indian Navy continues to evolve as one of the most capable maritime forces in the region — a testament to the nation’s growing expertise and innovation in naval defense.