GRSE launches last of 8 anti-submarine warfare ships for Indian Navy

‘Ajay’, the eighth and last ship of Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC), indigenously designed and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), was launched on Monday in Kolkata.

The warship, ‘Ajay’, was launched by Priya Deshmukh, wife of Vice Admiral Kiran Deshmukh, Chief of Materiel-Indian Navy. Deshmukh was the chief guest at the occasion. ‘Ajay” has been built by GRSE for the Indian Navy.

Chairman and Managing Director of GRSE CMDE P R Hari IN (Retd) pointed out how the next few years are extremely crucial for GRSE as several ships are now at various stages of outfitting and will be delivered subsequently.


“With 16 Warships under construction for the Indian Navy and many more orders for Warships expected, I am confident of GRSE delivering a Century of Warships to Indian Navy within a decade.” Hari said.

Vice Admiral Kiran Deshmukh pointed out that GRSE has progressed fast and has become one of the premier defence shipyards of the country, having a unique distinction of building more than 110 warships.

‘Ajay’ today was launched in less than nine months after the launch of ‘Abhay’, the seventh vessel in the series.

“Launch of Ajay is a significant milestone in Indian Navy’s continued quest for self-reliance in shipbuilding, weapons, sensors and advanced communication and electronic warfare systems. With an indigenous content of over 80%, the ship exemplifies the Government of India’s initiative of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India and will provide significant capabilities to secure our national maritime interests in the Indian Ocean Region, MoD statement said.

“The primary role of ASWSWCs is to keep the waters near the coasts clear of enemy submarines and can participate in a variety of operations. These ships are designed and built with low draughts and they are thus capable of coastal operations. They are equally capable of Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO) and laying mines,” a statement said.

Deshmukh said, "GRSE has designed and built the highest number of warships, delivered by any other Indian shipyard."