INS Anjadip

Why in news? INS Anjadip was commissioned into the Indian Navy on February 27. It is designed as a “Dolphin Hunter” to detect, track, and neutralise enemy submarines in shallow coastal waters.
INS Anjadip – Characteristics
•  Model: Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC)
•  Builder: Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd
•  It is the third vessel of the Arnala-class ASW-SWC series.
•  The ship is 77 metres long and uses a high-speed water-jet propulsion system.
•  It can achieve a top speed of 25 knots.
•  It is equipped with indigenous anti-submarine weapons and sensors.
•  It carries the hull-mounted sonar system ‘Abhay’.
•  It is armed with lightweight torpedoes and ASW rockets.
•  INS Anjadip – Strategic Importance
•  The ship is named after Anjadip Island off the Karwar coast.
•  It is strategically placed to safeguard India’s coastal approaches, including the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry areas.
•  The commissioning supports the Navy’s goal of becoming a strong “Builder’s Navy,” with emphasis on indigenous construction.
•  The ship’s crest features a Shankh (conch), symbolising vigilance.

Apart from anti-submarine warfare, the vessel can conduct coastal surveillance, low-intensity maritime operations, and search-and-rescue missions.
ASW-SWC Programme
•  The ASW-SWC corvettes are intended to replace the ageing Abhay-class vessels.
•  The programme promotes defence indigenisation and reduces import dependence.
•  It aligns with the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Contribution of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)
•  SAIL is supplying approximately 3,500 tonnes of special-grade steel for eight ASW-SWC corvettes being built by GRSE.
•  Its integrated plants at Bokaro, Bhilai, and Rourkela support the domestic defence supply chain.
SAIL has previously supplied special-grade steel for major defence projects such as INS Vikrant, INS Udaygiri, INS Nilgiri, and INS Surat.