CDS General Anil Chauhan dedicates INS Arnala to nation at Naval Dockyard in Eastern Naval Command

ANI

Visakhapatnam (AP), June 18, 2025 (ANI): Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan on June 18 dedicated INS Arnala to the nation at the Naval Dockyard in Eastern Naval Command.

Transcript

00:00I am very delighted to be present here today for the commissioning ceremony of INS Arnala,

00:05the first of the 16 anti-submarine shallow watercrafts to be inducted into the Indian Navy.

00:13Friends, most of us are aware that India has earned a stature of being a significant maritime power

00:21and has come to be seen as a preferred security partner in the Indian Ocean region

00:27by leveraging its strategic location, economic influence and on the strength and capabilities of the Indian Navy.

00:35As we protect and preserve vital sea lanes that are crucial for global trade and energy flows,

00:43our naval platforms play a role in maintaining maritime security,

00:48countering piracy and ensuring the safety of our shipping routes.

00:51Considering the current flux in the geopolitical environment and the ever-challenging security situations,

01:01our Navy needs to remain strong, credible and equipped with the latest state-of-the-art ships.

01:10During Operation Sindhu, it was a matter of pride that about 40 naval ships,

01:16including the carrier battle group, were deployed in the designated area of operations.

01:22The firepower available at sea, in terms of both ship and air-launched missiles,

01:28imposed a significant impact on enemy's operation planning and tactical actions.

01:34Consequently, the Indian Navy established a kind of de facto blockade,

01:39thus confining the Pakistan Navy and their activities to the harbour or near to the coastline only.

01:47Indian Navy influenced the overall battle in war-bent and particularly.

01:52Indian Navy's transition from being a biased Navy to a builders Navy

01:57has been the backbone of its blue-water aspirations.

02:02Indian's construction of more than 98 ships,

02:05including the aircraft carrier IADIS Vikrant,

02:09nuclear-powered ballistic submarines,

02:11destroyers, frigates,

02:13covets,

02:14tankers,

02:15survey vessels,

02:16landing crafts

02:16and other auxiliary vessels

02:18is a testimony to the growing prowess of the Indian shipbuilding industry.

02:24With 60 ships at different stages of being under construction

02:28and more than 180 ships at the pre-contact stage,

02:33it's a testimony of our government's commitment

02:36towards raising and maintaining a strong blue-water maritime force.

02:42The Ministry of Defence has constantly endeavoured to promote Indianization within the armed forces,

02:50and the armed forces cannot remain dependent on foreign help for its operational preparedness.

02:55It's noteworthy that the recently commissioned warships,

03:00numerous Indian equipment have been installed,

03:03accounting for almost 75% immunization content by cost,

03:07and as the CNC said,

03:08about 80% overall.

03:10I am very happy to note that.

03:12This highlights the impact of collaborative efforts

03:15between the Indian Navy and the Indian shipbuilding industry.

03:18Today, with the commissioning of INS Arnala,

03:23yet another asset has been added to a naval fleet

03:27with weapons and sensor-intensive suits.

03:30In a naval ship, Arnala,

03:32named after the historic fort which is located

03:35of Vasai in Maharashtra,

03:37is a reflection of India's legacy of mariners

03:39who have guarded our coast since ancient times.

03:43Construction of this ship

03:44through a joint public-private venture

03:47between Defence Shipyard GRSE

03:49and private sector Larson and Tubro

03:52is a perfect example of public-private partnership

03:55of which the Chairman and Managing Director

03:58did make a mention in his opening address.

04:01I have been informed that INS Arnala

04:04has been designed to undertake

04:06the highly challenging missions of underwater surveillance,

04:10anti-submarine warfare operations,

04:12and low-intensity maritime operations.

04:15I am sanguine that the ship

04:17with superior anti-submarine warfare capabilities

04:20as well as mine-laying capabilities

04:22will play a crucial role

04:24in safeguarding India's vast coastline.

04:27I am also confident

04:28that the carefully selected weapons and sensors

04:31will make the ship a highly potent platform

04:35and a force enabler

04:36for successful and effective fleet operations.

04:40I would like to congratulate

04:41the Chairman and Managing Director of DRSE

04:45and Messrs. Larson and Tubro Shipyard

04:48as also their talented and committed workforce

04:52for delivering such a capable

04:54and combat-worthy asset to the nation.

04:58At the same,

04:59I would also appreciate the mammoth effort

05:01of the Indian Navy

05:02for having the intent and ability

05:04to transform this vision

05:06into a reality

05:07through the Indianess route.

05:09I would like to highlight

05:11to the commanding officer

05:12and the commissioning crew of INS Arnala

05:15that the honest responsibility

05:17of this war asset

05:19rests entirely on its shoulders from now on.

05:21Remember,

05:23this machine is as good

05:24as the men behind it.

05:26Being the first of the class,

05:28your performance will set a benchmark

05:31for the rest of the series

05:32that would follow.

05:34Lastly,

05:35I would like to thank

05:37the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief,

05:38Eastern Naval Command,

05:39for hosting me today

05:41on this momentous occasion

05:43and this new avatar

05:45of old legendary Arnala

05:46proudly dorsed the Naval Ensign

05:49towards the glorious service ahead.

05:51I wish this fine ship

05:53and all the sailors

05:54that sailed with her

05:55fair winds following seas

05:58in many fathoms below the keel

05:59and success in all their future endeavors.

06:03Thank you and Jai Him.

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