New Delhi, February 27: The Indian Navy proudly inducted a new warship, ‘Anjadip’, on Friday. Navy Chief Dinesh K. Tripathi described this moment as a significant achievement. This indigenous vessel is designed for anti-submarine warfare in shallow waters.
The warship is capable of detecting and neutralizing enemy submarines. ‘Anjadip’ is engineered to operate as a “Dolphin Hunter,” focusing on locating, tracking, and incapacitating enemy submarines in coastal areas. It is equipped with advanced indigenous anti-submarine weapons and sensor packages, including the hull-mounted sonar ‘Abhay’.
Additionally, this Indian warship is armed with lightweight torpedoes and anti-submarine rockets. The induction ceremony took place in Chennai, where the Navy Chief announced plans to introduce approximately 15 more vessels in 2026, marking the highest induction rate to date. By 2035, the Indian Navy aims to expand its fleet to over 200 vessels, with 50 currently being constructed in Indian shipyards.
The Navy’s goal is to establish a fully self-reliant naval force by 2047. Besides its primary anti-submarine role, ‘Anjadip’ is a versatile warship capable of coastal surveillance, low-intensity maritime operations, and search and rescue missions. The vessel measures 77 meters in length and features a high-speed water-jet propulsion system, enabling it to reach a maximum speed of 25 nautical miles for rapid response and sustained operations.
During the ceremony, the Navy Chief remarked, “As we gather today on the historic Coromandel Coast in Chennai, it is fitting to remember that a millennium ago, the great Chola rulers embarked from these shores across the Bay of Bengal to distant lands. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stated that India has always been a maritime civilization. Today, our security and prosperity are intertwined with the seas.”
‘Anjadip’ joins the Indian Navy as a worthy successor to its illustrious predecessor, the last vessel of the Petya class, which served the nation for nearly three decades from 1972 to 2003. Notably, the Navy Chief served on this vessel as a Sub Lieutenant in 1986-87. He explained that the warship is named after the island that witnessed the decisive action of the Indian Navy, paving the way for Goa’s liberation in December 1961.
He highlighted that approximately 120,000 ships transit through the Indian Ocean region annually, carrying two-thirds of the world’s oil transport, one-third of bulk goods, and 50 percent of container traffic. However, only 20 percent of this trade occurs between coastal countries of the Indian Ocean, while 80 percent is external.
He emphasized that even minor disruptions at sea can lead to disproportionately large strategic consequences. The Red Sea crisis demonstrated how a single narrow maritime route could impact continents. Recent tensions in Hormuz illustrated this reality, as a precautionary closure of this route led to a nearly 4.4 percent spike in crude oil prices within a single trading session. In this complex and sensitive security environment, the Indian Navy has been proactive in ensuring the continuity of maritime trade and energy flows.
He noted that since October 2023, the Navy’s deployment in the Red Sea has facilitated the safe passage of nearly 400 merchant vessels, bringing approximately 16.5 million metric tons of oil and other goods to India, valued at over 7 billion US dollars.
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