GRSE Launches 7th Anti-Submarine Warfare Craft ‘Abhay’ to Bolster Indian Navy’s Coastal Defense

In a significant stride for India's naval capabilities, the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd. recently launched the seventh Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) named ‘Abhay’ for the Indian Navy. This launch marks an essential milestone in India’s defense manufacturing and naval expansion, as Abhay joins a class of eight ASW SWCs designed to tackle threats beneath the surface of India’s coastal waters. With the ongoing maritime security needs, the Navy's reliance on locally-built, advanced anti-submarine ships has become a top priority, and Abhay represents the cutting edge of this defense strategy.

The launch ceremony, held with full naval tradition and maritime reverence, was inaugurated by Sandhya Pendharkar, the president of Navy Welfare and Wellness and spouse of Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, the Eastern Naval Command chief. According to naval custom, the ship’s sponsor or "mother" performs the launch, giving the ship her official name and "birth" before she embarks on decades of service. This unique maritime tradition, particularly in launching warships, is symbolic of giving life and purpose to a vessel destined to serve its nation.

GRSE’s ASW SWCs, including the new INS Abhay, are built for agility and functionality in shallow waters, where submarines often operate with stealth. One of the standout features of these crafts is their compact design, measuring 77.6 meters in length and 10.5 meters wide, while requiring a minimal draught of just 2.7 meters. This design makes Abhay capable of maneuvering close to the shoreline, where it can conduct comprehensive sub-surface surveillance and counter low-intensity maritime threats. 

The ASW SWCs are designed with waterjet propulsion, allowing for speeds up to 25 knots (approximately 46 km/h). This speed is not only ideal for swift response to threats but also helps the craft evade potential attacks while it tracks and counters underwater targets. Abhay, like her sister ships, is equipped with a powerful suite of anti-submarine weaponry, including lightweight torpedoes, ASW rockets, and mines, making her a potent coastal defense asset. 

Additionally, Abhay's defense capabilities extend to above-water threats with a 30 mm Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) and 12.7 mm stabilized remote-controlled guns, both vital for safeguarding against aerial or surface-level hostilities. For underwater surveillance, the vessel boasts a sophisticated sonar system, with a Hull-Mounted Sonar and a Low-Frequency Variable Depth Sonar, ensuring enhanced detection and tracking of submarines. These systems enable the ship to engage effectively in coordinated anti-submarine warfare with support from naval aircraft, further reinforcing India’s maritime defense network.

This latest vessel shares its name with an older ASW Corvette, INS Abhay, which has been in the Indian Navy’s service since 1989. Built in the Soviet Union, the original INS Abhay has faithfully served in anti-submarine operations for 35 years, becoming the only remaining vessel of the Abhay class. With the introduction of the new ASW SWC, the Navy prepares to retire this longstanding craft, replacing it with a modernized, more advanced counterpart capable of addressing contemporary sub-surface threats.

During the launch, Vice Admiral Pendharkar expressed his appreciation for GRSE’s contributions, emphasizing the vital role these new ASW SWCs play in addressing potential submarine threats. “With enemy submarines potentially operating in Indian waters, these crafts fill a major gap left by the decommissioning of older corvettes. Importantly, over 80% of the equipment on these warships is sourced from Indian suppliers and OEMs,” he stated. Highlighting GRSE’s efficiency, he added that almost 40% of the work on INS Abhay was completed before the official launch, reflecting the shipyard’s commitment to timely, high-quality defense production.

GRSE’s chairman, Cmde P R Hari, commended the team’s perseverance despite pandemic-related challenges and disruptions in supply chains. “We overcame all challenges to meet our commitments,” Cmde Hari noted, recalling the resilience displayed after GRSE signed the contract for the series of eight ASW SWCs. He also reaffirmed the shipbuilder's goal of achieving 100 warship deliveries in the coming decade, underscoring GRSE's reputation as a dependable partner for the Indian Navy.

With the addition of INS Abhay, GRSE strengthens the Indian Navy’s coastal defense force, equipped with the necessary tools and technologies to safeguard the nation’s maritime borders. As the Navy looks toward future expansions, these domestically produced vessels signify India's journey toward self-reliance in defense, ready to face and neutralize maritime threats with state-of-the-art capability.