(Special Correspondent)
On October 6, 2025, the Indian Navy will add a sharp new blade to its arsenal when Androth, the second Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), is commissioned at the Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam. The event, to be presided over by Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, marks not just another ship joining the fleet but a vital stride in India’s quest for littoral dominance and maritime security.
The Androth belongs to the ASW-SWC project, under which 16 vessels are being constructed to replace the ageing Abhay-class corvettes. Eight are being built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata, and the remaining eight by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL).
The programme is a showcase of India’s growing shipbuilding prowess. More than 80% of components are indigenously sourced, involving a web of domestic suppliers—special grade steel from SAIL’s Bokaro plant, sensors from Bharat Electronics Ltd, propulsion systems designed locally, and advanced sonar suites with DRDO’s involvement. This is the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision translated into naval steel.
While not as large as frigates or destroyers, Androth and her sister ships are purpose-built for shallow-water combat:
- Dimensions: 77.6 m long, 10.5 m beam, ~2.7 m draught, ~750-900 tonnes displacement.
- Speed & Range: Top speed ~25 knots; endurance of ~1,800 nautical miles at 14 knots.
- Crew: ~57 (7 officers, 50 sailors).
- Propulsion: Diesel engines with water-jet propulsion, giving agility in shallow waters and a lower acoustic signature—an edge in submarine hunting.
Sensors & Weapons:
- Advanced Hull-Mounted Sonar and Low-Frequency Variable-Depth Sonar for detecting submarines hiding in littorals.
- RBU-6000 rocket launchers and lightweight ASW torpedoes to prosecute detected threats.
- Mine-laying capability to choke enemy access routes.
- Close-in defence: 30 mm naval guns and 12.7 mm remote-controlled weapons.
- Modern communication and combat management systems for seamless integration with other naval assets.
In short: compact, stealthy, and bristling with shallow-water warfare tools.
- Legacy and Symbolism
The ship is named after Androth Island in the Lakshadweep archipelago, underscoring India’s commitment to protecting far-flung maritime territories. It also revives the legacy of its namesake, INS Androth (P69), which served the Navy for 27 years before decommissioning.
- Strategic Context
India’s 7,500-km coastline, 1,200 islands, and busy shipping lanes make coastal defence a complex challenge. Submarines—especially diesel-electric ones operating close to shore—pose a stealthy, asymmetric threat. Androth is designed precisely for these contested littoral zones, where larger ships may struggle to manoeuvre.
- Regional Security Imperatives
China’s increasing submarine deployments in the Indian Ocean, Pakistan’s plans to expand its undersea fleet, and the rise of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) raise the stakes. By 2027, when all 16 ASW-SWCs are expected to be commissioned, India will field a formidable shield against undersea intrusions in coastal and island waters.
- Force Multiplier
These vessels fill a critical gap between large ASW frigates and aircraft on one side, and coastal patrol craft on the other. By operating in tandem with maritime patrol aircraft like the P-8I and helicopter-borne ASW assets, Androth enhances India’s layered defence network.
Defence analysts note that Androth is not about size, but about fit-for-purpose design.
- Cmde. Anil Jai Singh (Retd.), maritime strategist, has long argued that India must prioritise “sea denial in littoral waters” as much as “blue-water sea control.” Ships like Androth are tailor-made for that doctrine.
- A report by the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) emphasises that with China deploying submarines for “surveys” in the IOR, India needs a persistent shallow-water ASW capability to detect and deter. The ASW-SWC fleet is a practical answer to that concern.
- Industry insiders also point out that the programme boosts the local defence industry, creating an ecosystem of suppliers for sonar, propulsion, and combat systems—reducing import dependency and supporting India’s defence export ambitions.
It is not without hurdles.
- Timely Delivery: All 16 ships are slated for delivery by 2027. Shipyard backlogs or supply chain bottlenecks could slow progress.
- Sensor Maturity: The performance of indigenous sonar systems in shallow waters will be keenly watched.
- Operational Integration: These vessels must be fully integrated with aerial, surface, and subsurface ASW assets to deliver maximum impact.
Yet, the induction of Androth suggests these challenges are being steadily overcome.
The commissioning of Androth is more than a ceremonial ribbon-cutting. It’s a statement: that India is serious about controlling its littorals, defending its islands, and keeping adversaries’ submarines at bay.
By marrying indigenous design, advanced technology, and strategic foresight, Androth strengthens India’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities at a crucial time. In the years ahead, as the full fleet of ASW-SWCs takes shape, the Indian Navy will not just patrol its seas—it will dominate them.
