INS Ajay Launched: Anti-Submarine Warship to Boost Indian Navy Strength

Vice Admiral Kiran Deshmukh on July 21 emphasized that in an era marked by strategic competition, resource control, and security challenges, the Indian Navy has emerged as a vital tool of national power projection, diplomacy, and regional stability.

He made these remarks during the launch ceremony of the eighth and final ship in a series of Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW SWC) constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) in Kolkata.

The warship, named ‘Ajay’, was launched by Vice Admiral Deshmukh’s wife, Priya Deshmukh. This ship is the last in the series of eight built by GRSE for the Indian Navy.

Indian Navy’s Growing Role in the Indo-Pacific

Vice Admiral Deshmukh noted that with 80% of global trade passing through the Indian Ocean region, the Indian Navy must remain the preferred security partner and a first responder in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions.

He added that the Navy is investing heavily in shipbuilding via Indian yards to ensure self-reliance, as reflected in the order books of various shipyards across the country.

GRSE's Contribution to Naval Shipbuilding

GRSE has emerged as a leading defense shipyard in India, having built over 110 warships for the Indian Navy and Coast Guard. Vice Admiral Deshmukh praised GRSE’s unmatched contribution to naval defense capability.

About INS Ajay

According to GRSE officials, the newly launched Ajay is capable of multi-role operations including anti-submarine warfare, surveillance, and search-and-rescue missions in shallow coastal waters. The 77.6-meter-long and 10.5-meter-wide vessel is optimized for operations in low-depth maritime zones.

Third-Generation Warship

GRSE CMD Commodore (Retd) PR Hari shared that this INS Ajay is part of a total of 16 ASW SWCs being constructed—eight by GRSE and eight by a partner shipyard. He noted that the previous ‘Ajay’, India’s first indigenous warship, was also built by GRSE and commissioned in 1961. The current Ajay is a third-generation warship, continuing a legacy of Indian naval strength.