Silent Hunters: Inside Indian Navy's Rapidly Evolving Anti-Submarine Warfare Capabilities

On 21 July this year, at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) facility in Kolkata, confetti drifted through the air as the Indian Navy's newest anti-submarine warfare (ASW) vessel gently touched the waters for the first time.

- ASHISH SINGH

The vessel, aptly named Ajay, is the eighth and final craft in a series of specialized Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW-SWC). Its launch marked not merely the completion of a naval shipbuilding contract, but a significant milestone in India's larger effort to counter submarine threats in its maritime backyard.

The importance of vessels like Ajay is clear: Indian waters are no strangers to submarine threats, particularly given the evolving geopolitical dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region. With increasing naval activity from China and Pakistan, particularly in submarine construction and deployment, India's Navy has been quietly but steadily enhancing its anti-submarine capabilities.

Defence experts widely acknowledge that India's current ASW modernization effort is among the most comprehensive underway anywhere in the Indo-Pacific.

The ASW Shallow Water Crafts, such as Ajay and its sister ships like INS Arnala—commissioned on June 18, 2025—are specifically tailored to operate effectively in the littoral zone, where waters are shallow, noisy, and traditionally challenging for submarine detection.

According to official GRSE statements, these warships are equipped with advanced sonars, including Hull-Mounted Sonars and Low-Frequency Variable Depth Sonars (LFVDS).

They pack an extensive arsenal comprising lightweight torpedoes, anti-submarine rockets, and sea mines. Additionally, they're fitted with defensive armament such as a 30 mm Close-in Weapon System (CIWS) and 12.7 mm Stabilised Remote-Control Guns, enabling these vessels to engage multiple threats simultaneously.

Beyond coastal operations, India's anti-submarine strategy extends into deeper waters. To secure the vast stretches of the Indian Ocean, the Indian Navy has developed a formidable multi layered ASW capability, integrating large surface combatants, airborne patrol platforms, and sophisticated underwater surveillance networks.