Navy to commission second anti-submarine warfare craft Androth

New Delhi, September 23. The Indian Navy will commission its second state-of-the-art Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), Androth, at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam on October 6. The ceremony will be presided over by Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command, the Ministry of Defence stated in a press release.

Androth is the second of 16 such vessels being built for the Indian Navy by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd., Kolkata. Featuring more than 80 percent indigenous components, the ship is seen as a significant milestone in the government’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative and India’s quest for greater self-reliance in the maritime domain. The vessel was formally handed over to the Navy on September 13.

Named after Androth Island in Lakshadweep, the ship highlights India’s strategic focus on protecting its far-flung maritime territories. The name also revives a legacy – the previous INS Androth (P69) served the Navy for 27 years before being decommissioned.

Equipped with advanced weapons and sensor suites, modern communication systems, and waterjet propulsion, the new Androth is designed to detect, track, and neutralise underwater threats with high precision. The craft is also capable of maritime surveillance, search and rescue operations, and coastal defence missions.

Officials said the induction of Androth will significantly bolster the Navy’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities while showcasing India’s growing expertise in designing and constructing world-class warships indigenously.