Kolkata-based defence shipyard Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers signed a Rs. 6,311-crore contract with the Defence Ministry on Monday to build eight anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft for the Indian Navy.

The first vessel is to be delivered within 42 months from the contract, that is by October 2022.After that, GRSE must deliver two more ASWSWCs annually, completing delivery by April 2026.

The ASWSWCs are equipped with sophisticated sonar, with an algorithm that differentiates the signals reflected off the enemy submarine from those bouncing off the sea bed.

These vessels will also have the ability to sprint fast for short bursts in order to maintain contact with a submarine it detects; as well as sophisticated data link networks for sharing information about the enemy submarine with friendly anti-submarine warships and aircraft.