KARWAR, India — The Indian Navy has commissioned INS Malvan, the second indigenously designed and built Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), strengthening the country's coastal anti-submarine capabilities as it continues to expand its domestically built fleet.
The vessel was commissioned on July 22 at the Karwar naval base in the southern state of Karnataka during a ceremony presided over by Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, in the presence of Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, senior naval officers, representatives of Cochin Shipyard Ltd., veterans and other guests, according to India's Ministry of Defence.
INS Malvan is the second ship of the Mahe-class ASW-SWC programme and forms part of the Indian Navy's broader effort to modernize its coastal defence and underwater warfare capabilities through indigenous shipbuilding. Built by Cochin Shipyard Ltd. in Kochi, the vessel contains more than 80% indigenous content, reflecting India's push to expand domestic defence manufacturing under the government's Aatmanirbhar Bharat, or self-reliant India, initiative.
The ministry said the ship is designed for anti-submarine warfare operations in shallow coastal waters while also supporting low-intensity maritime operations and mine warfare missions. The craft is equipped with advanced sensors and weapons intended to detect, track and engage underwater threats, enhancing the Navy's ability to protect coastal approaches and key maritime infrastructure.
The vessel derives its name from the historic coastal town of Malvan in Maharashtra, a region associated with the maritime legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The name also revives that of an earlier Indian naval minesweeper that remained in service until 2003, continuing the Navy's tradition of preserving distinguished warship names, the ministry said.
Addressing the commissioning ceremony, Air Chief Marshal Singh highlighted the importance of securing sea lines of communication to ensure uninterrupted maritime trade, describing maritime security as critical to India's economic growth in an increasingly uncertain global environment, according to the Ministry of Defence.
The commissioning comes as India continues to induct new indigenous naval platforms across multiple ship classes. Defence officials have said the Mahe-class programme is intended to strengthen the Navy's anti-submarine warfare capabilities in littoral waters while reducing reliance on imported platforms and systems.
