INS Androth & INS Anjadip: India’s ‘Dolphin Hunters’ Strengthen Littoral Anti‑Submarine Warfare
INS Androth (commissioned in October 2025) and the upcoming commissioning of INS Anjadip on 27 February 2026 in Chennai reflect India’s push to strengthen coastal (littoral) anti-submarine warfare and maritime security through indigenously built platforms. These vessels belong to the Anti‑Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW‑SWC) project designed to detect, track and neutralise sub-surface threats in coastal and shallow waters.
What’s in the news?
The Indian Navy is set to commission INS Anjadip, the third vessel of the eight-ship ASW‑SWC project, into the Eastern Naval Command at Chennai Port on 27 Feb 2026, with the ceremony to be presided over by Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff. Earlier, the Indian Navy commissioned INS Androth (second ASW‑SWC) on 06 Oct 2025 at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam.
ASW‑SWC: why shallow-water ASW matters
Conventional submarines can exploit India’s busy coastal waters, shipping lanes and approaches to naval bases to hide amid high ambient noise and clutter. ASW‑SWCs are purpose-built for the littoral combat environment, providing quick reaction and persistent patrol capability closer to shore than larger blue-water combatants.
INS Androth: key facts (official)
INS Androth is an indigenously built ASW platform constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, with over 80% indigenous content, highlighting the Aatmanirbhar Bharat thrust in defence manufacturing. The ship is 77 m long and displaces about 1500 tonnes, designed specifically for anti-submarine operations in coastal and shallow waters, and equipped with advanced weapons, sensors and communications to detect, track and neutralise sub-surface threats.
It is powered by three waterjet propulsion systems driven by marine diesel engines, giving it high agility and manoeuvrability—an advantage in shallow waters. Beyond ASW, INS Androth is also tasked for maritime surveillance, search & rescue, coastal defence, and Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO).
Naming note (UPSC-friendly): The ship is named after Androth, the northernmost island of Lakshadweep, underlining its relevance for safeguarding India’s island and coastal maritime domain.
INS Anjadip: what the Navy says about the 2026 commissioning
PIB notes that INS Anjadip is built by GRSE and is engineered as a “Dolphin Hunter” for detection, tracking and neutralisation of enemy submarines in coastal areas. Its indigenous ASW package includes the Hull Mounted Sonar ‘Abhay’, and it is armed with lightweight torpedoes and ASW rockets, while also being capable of coastal surveillance, LIMO and SAR missions.
The ship is 77 m long with a water-jet propulsion system and a stated top speed of 25 knots, enabling rapid response for sustained littoral operations. Anjadip is named after a historically significant island off the coast of Karwar, and its induction is expected to bolster coastal approaches including Tamil Nadu and Puducherry areas.
Strategic significance
- Coastal defence & base protection: Platforms like Androth and Anjadip add a dedicated ASW layer in India’s near-seas and chokepoint approaches.
- Indigenisation & shipbuilding ecosystem: Both PIB releases explicitly link these inductions to accelerated progress toward Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence and indigenous warship construction.
- Littoral operational flexibility: Waterjet propulsion and manoeuvrability improve effectiveness in shallow waters where submarines and asymmetric threats can exploit geography.
| Parameter | INS Androth (ASW-SWC) | INS Anjadip (ASW-SWC) |
|---|---|---|
| Commissioning (date & place) | 06 Oct 2025, Naval Dockyard Visakhapatnam | 27 Feb 2026 (scheduled), Chennai Port; Eastern Naval Command |
| Builder | GRSE, Kolkata | GRSE, Kolkata |
| Indigenous content | >80% | Not specified in PIB release |
| Length | 77 m | 77 m |
| Displacement | About 1500 tonnes | Not specified in PIB release |
| Propulsion | Three waterjet propulsion systems driven by marine diesel engines | High-speed water-jet propulsion system |
| Top speed | Not specified in PIB release | 25 knots |
| ASW suite (named in release) | Advanced weapons/sensors/communications (names not listed) | Hull Mounted Sonar (Abhay), lightweight torpedoes, ASW rockets |
| Secondary roles | Maritime surveillance, SAR, coastal defence, LIMO | Coastal surveillance, LIMO, SAR |
Source: PIB releases on INS Androth (06 Oct 2025) and INS Anjadip (commissioning on 27 Feb 2026).
FAQs
Q1. When and where was INS Androth commissioned?
INS Androth was commissioned on 06 October 2025 at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam.
Q2. When and where will INS Anjadip be commissioned?
INS Anjadip is scheduled for commissioning on 27 February 2026 at Chennai Port into the Eastern Naval Command.
Q3. What is the role of ASW‑SWC vessels?
They are designed for anti-submarine warfare in coastal and shallow waters, and can also undertake coastal surveillance, SAR and LIMO roles.
Q4. Who builds these shallow water ASW crafts?
INS Androth and INS Anjadip are built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.
Q5. What does “Dolphin Hunter” mean in this context?
PIB uses it to describe ASW‑SWCs like Anjadip that are engineered to detect, track and neutralise enemy submarines in coastal waters.
Q6. What is notable about the propulsion system?
INS Androth uses three waterjet propulsion systems driven by marine diesel engines for high agility and manoeuvrability, while Anjadip is described as having high-speed water-jet propulsion with a top speed of 25 knots.
