Indian Navy Inducts ‘Androth’ – A New Anti-Submarine Warfare Ship

The Indian Navy has strengthened its maritime power by inducting ‘Androth’, the second Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC). Built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, this vessel reflects India’s push towards self-reliance under

Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Symbolic Significance

The ship is named after Androth Island in the Lakshadweep archipelago. This not only highlights its operational area but also symbolizes India’s commitment to protecting its island territories and surrounding sea lanes, especially at a time of rising strategic challenges in the Indian Ocean.

Features and Capabilities

‘Androth’ is about 77 metres long and is one of the largest Indian naval warships powered by a diesel engine–waterjet propulsion system. It is equipped with: * Lightweight torpedoes * Indigenous anti-submarine warfare rockets * State-of-the-art sonar and sensors These features make it highly effective in detecting and neutralizing submarine threats in shallow coastal waters and littoral zones. Its excellent maneuverability adds to its operational edge in complex maritime environments.

Indigenous Strength

A remarkable feature of ‘Androth’ is its over 80% indigenous content. This reflects the growing capability of Indian shipyards, reduces reliance on imports, and showcases India’s ability to design and produce advanced defence platforms domestically.

Conclusion

The induction of ‘Androth’ is a milestone for the Indian Navy. It strengthens coastal surveillance, boosts anti-submarine warfare capacity, and underlines India’s determination to protect its maritime borders while advancing self-reliant defence manufacturing.