Neeta Chaudhari launching the warships while her husband, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari (in uniform), applauds. (India Sentinels photo via special arrangement.)
Kolkata: In a boost to its anti-submarine operations, the Indian Navy has launched two new warships – INS Agray and INS Akshay. These vessels, also called anti-submarine warfare (ASW) shallow-water craft (SWC), are built by the Kolkata-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE). These ASW SWC are designed to conduct anti-submarine operations in coastal waters, low-intensity maritime operations, and mine-laying operations.
The Indian Air Force chief, Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari, presided over the launch ceremony. Keeping with traditions, the warships were ceremonially launched by Neeta Chaudhari, the Air chief’s wife. After the ceremonial launch and breaking of coconuts, Chaudhari named them “INS Agray” and “INS Akshay”.
Historic Achievement: Simultaneous Launch of Two ASWSWC Warships for #IndianNavy#GRSE #AtmanirbharBharat #MoD #RMOIndia #defence@IAF_MCC pic.twitter.com/BlC35ZRsDQ
— GRSE - Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (@OfficialGRSE) March 13, 2024
These ships are reincarnations of the Indian Navy’s Abhay-class warships “INS Agray” and “INS Akshay”. While the original INS Agray was decommissioned in 2017, INS Akshay was decommissioned in 2022.
These two new vessels are the fifth and sixth in the series of the eight-ASW SWC project that the GRSE has undertaken.
The ASW SWCs are compact waterjet-propelled ships capable of reaching maximum speeds of 25 knots (nautical miles per hour), which is over 46 kilometres per hour. These ships pack a lethal anti-submarine suite comprising lightweight torpedoes, ASW rockets, and mines. They are also armed with a 30mm close-in weapon system (30mm) and 12.7mm stabilized remote-control guns.
The eight ASW SWCs in the ongoing GRSE project will have over 80 per cent indigenous content.
