Abhay Warship

The name Abhay is associated with a class of Indian Navy corvettes known for their anti-submarine warfare role, and more recently, with a new shallow-water ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) ship launched under the same name to carry forward that legacy.

Background & Evolution

• The Abhay-class corvettes were derived from the Soviet Pauk-class design (Project 1241 PE), but modified for Indian Navy requirements.
• The primary mission of these corvettes was coastal patrol, surveillance, and anti-submarine warfare in shallow waters.
• Over time, as these older corvettes age, India has initiated a program to replace them with ASW Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) vessels—of which a new ship named Abhay is part.

The Original INS Abhay (P33) & Its Class

• INS Abhay (P33) was the lead ship of the Abhay-class corvettes.
• These corvettes displaced around 485 tonnes in their original Soviet specification.
• Performance parameters included a maximum speed of about 28 knots (some sources say up to 32 knots) and a range of ~2400 nautical miles at cruising speeds.
• Crew complement varied by source. One listing gives 97 personnel (including officers), while Jane’s reports ~32 (including officers).
• Sensor and weapon systems included sonar suites, torpedo tubes, RBU (rocket anti-submarine) launchers, and appropriate electronic equipment adapted for ASW missions.

Over the years, many of the vessels of this class have been decommissioned. For example, INS Ajay (P34) was decommissioned on 19 September 2022 after 32 years of service.

The New “Abhay” – ASW Shallow Water Craft

• Under the programme to replace the aging Abhay-class corvettes, a new ship named Abhay (of the Arnala class of ASW-SWC) was launched in October 2024 at L&T’s facility.
• The keel of this new Abhay was laid earlier (13 June 2023) at GRSE (Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers), Kolkata.
• This vessel is designed to have a displacement and size greater than the original corvettes, and be more suitable for modern ASW operations in shallow littoral waters.
• The new Abhay is part of a set of eight such vessels under contract with GRSE and Cochin Shipyard to be built for the Indian Navy.

According to one source, the new Abhay is part of a class with a length of about 77 m, maximum speed of 25 knots, and endurance of 1,800 nautical miles.

Strategic Importance & Role

• The original Abhay-class ships played a valuable role in coastal defence, ensuring that submarines or underwater incursions in littoral waters could be detected and countered.
• However, with their ageing systems and limitations, their utility is diminishing.
• The new wave of ASW Shallow Water Craft, including the Abhay, are intended to be more capable for modern threats, especially in shallow coastal waters and for low intensity maritime operations.
• The replacement programme is aligned with India’s “Make in India” goals, with much of the new ship’s systems being domestically sourced.