The Indian Navy has commissioned INS Androth (P31), a domestically-built anti-submarine warfare (ASW) corvette developed under Project 28. Constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), this vessel is the second in a series of eight shallow water ASW corvettes designed to bolster India’s maritime security posture in littoral zones.
Project 28 and Indigenous Naval Capability Development
Project 28 is a long-running indigenous program aimed at delivering advanced stealthy ASW corvettes tailored for operations in shallow waters. Initiated in the early 2000s to replace aging Soviet-era platforms like the Abhay-class (Pauk II), the project reflects India’s strategic shift toward self-reliance in naval shipbuilding under its “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiative.
The first four ships of Project 28—INS Kamorta (P28), INS Kadmatt (P29), INS Kiltan (P30), and INS Kavaratti (P31)—were delivered between 2014 and 2020. These vessels were optimized for blue-water operations. In contrast, the next batch of eight ships under a revised design focuses on shallow water ASW missions with reduced displacement and enhanced maneuverability.
INS Androth is part of this second batch and follows INS Arnala—the lead ship of this new subclass—commissioned in December 2023. The class is sometimes referred to as the Arnala-class or SW-ASWC (Shallow Water Anti-Submarine Warfare Corvette).
Design Features and Technical Specifications
INS Androth has been designed for high maneuverability and low acoustic signature—critical traits for submarine hunting in confined coastal waters. Key specifications include:
- Displacement: Approx. 750 tons
- Length: ~77 meters
- Speed: Over 25 knots
- Crew: Around 57 personnel
The vessel features a catamaran hull form for improved stability and reduced hydrodynamic drag in shallow waters. It incorporates advanced acoustic quieting technologies including raft-mounted engines and vibration isolation systems to reduce sonar detectability.
The platform integrates indigenous content exceeding 80%, including key systems such as hull-mounted sonar, integrated platform management system (IPMS), propulsion components, combat management system (CMS), and electronic warfare suites—all sourced from Indian vendors like BEL, Larsen & Toubro, and Bharat Dynamics Ltd.
Sensors and Weapons Fit for Littoral Sub-Hunting
The primary mission profile of INS Androth revolves around detecting and neutralizing submarines operating close to shorelines or near critical infrastructure such as ports or offshore energy assets. To that end, it is equipped with:
- Sensors: Hull-mounted sonar system developed by DRDO’s NPOL; potential integration with variable depth sonar or towed array systems in future upgrades.
- Main armament: One medium-range naval gun (~30 mm); two lightweight torpedo launchers capable of firing indigenously developed torpedoes such as Varunastra or TAL.
- Aviation capability: No onboard hangar; however, deck space allows operation of rotary-wing UAVs or light helicopters for extended surveillance.
The ship also carries chaff dispensers for soft-kill defense against incoming missiles and may be fitted with short-range surface-to-air missile systems depending on mission requirements.
Tactical Role Within Indian Naval Doctrine
The induction of INS Androth aligns with India’s evolving maritime doctrine emphasizing layered defense across blue-water and littoral zones. As Chinese submarine activity increases across the Indo-Pacific—including suspected deployments near Sri Lanka and Pakistan—the need for agile sub-hunters capable of operating close to shore becomes critical.
The SW-ASWC class fills a niche between larger frigates/destroyers with deep-sea ASW capability and smaller patrol vessels focused on surface threats. Operating primarily within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) or choke points like the Malacca Strait or Palk Bay, these ships can interdict diesel-electric submarines using passive sonar detection followed by rapid torpedo engagement.
This also supports India’s multi-layered underwater domain awareness strategy that includes seabed sensors, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), maritime patrol aircraft like P-8I Poseidons, and satellite-based ISR platforms.
Status of Program Deliveries and Future Outlook
The contract for eight SW-ASWC vessels was awarded to GRSE in April 2019 at an estimated cost of ₹6,311 crore (~$760 million USD). The first keel was laid down in December 2020. With two ships now commissioned—INS Arnala and INS Androth—the remaining six are expected to be delivered by late 2026 if current timelines hold.
This program complements other indigenous naval projects including next-generation corvettes under Project-17A, mine countermeasure vessels under development at Goa Shipyard Ltd., and unmanned surface vessel prototypes being tested by DRDO labs.
If proven effective operationally—and if budget permits—the SW-ASWC design could form the basis for future export variants targeted at Southeast Asian navies facing similar submarine threats but lacking large blue-water fleets.
Strategic Implications Across the Indo-Pacific
The commissioning of vessels like INS Androth signals India’s intent to maintain credible deterrence not only against conventional surface threats but also against increasingly stealthy underwater platforms operated by regional adversaries. As China expands its submarine fleet—including nuclear-powered SSNs—and continues port visits across South Asia under its Belt & Road Initiative umbrella, India’s ability to monitor littoral zones becomes vital.
This also aligns with QUAD partners’ emphasis on interoperability across anti-submarine warfare domains—a focus area during recent Malabar exercises involving Australia, Japan, USA, and India. While SW-ASWC ships are not designed for high-seas combat roles alongside destroyers like Visakhapatnam-class DDGs or Talwar-class frigates, they are well-suited for distributed operations within contested grey zones where hybrid threats persist below traditional thresholds of war.
Conclusion
INS Androth represents another step forward in India’s effort to build a resilient indigenous defense industrial base while addressing pressing operational needs along its vast coastline. As asymmetric threats grow more sophisticated beneath the waves—from mini-subs to autonomous underwater drones—platforms like these will play an increasingly central role in safeguarding national interests below sea level.
