INS Abhay (2024)


INS Abhay is the fourth of the Arnala class of the Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Watercraft operated by the Indian Navy.

Background

On 23 December 2013, the Defence Acquisition Council –- the main acquisition panel subordinate to India's Ministry of Defence, approved the procurement of sixteen anti-submarine warfare vessels capable of operating in shallow waters, at a cost of, to replace the ageing Abhay-class corvettes of the Indian Navy – which were commissioned between 1989 and 1991. This includes the development of the vessels with about displacement and an operational radius of from its home port. They would be built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers.
In June 2014, the MoD issued a tender, worth USD2.25 billion under the 'Buy and Make India' category to private-shipyards – including Larsen & Toubro, ABG Shipyard, Pipavav Defense and Offshore Engineering, Goa Shipyard and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, for the procurement of the 16 anti-submarine vessels.
In October 2017, Cochin Shipyard and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers emerged as the first and the second-lowest bidder in the tender, respectively. CSL had quoted a value of while GRSE had to match the bid value of CSL in order to get the contract.

Purchase

On 29 April 2019, the MoD and GRSE signed a contract, valued at, for eight anti-submarine vessels, to be delivered between 2022 and 2026. The contract mandates the first vessel to be delivered within 42 months of the date of signing, with the remaining seven vessels delivered at a rate of two ships per year within 84 months.
On 30 April 2019, the MoD and CSL signed a similar contract for the construction of the remaining eight vessels – within a deadline of 84 months. Under this contract, the first ship was also expected to be delivered within a span of 42 months, with subsequent deliveries of two ships per year.

Construction

GRSE formed a Public Private Partnership alliance with Larsen & Toubro involving its Kattupalli Shipyard to undertake the entire ASW SWC project along with the Survey Vessel (Large) Project.
The keel laying ceremony of the ship was conducted on 13 June 2023 at GRSE Main Works Unit in Kolkata. Christened Abhay, the ship was launched into the water of the Hooghly River on 25 October 2024.