INS Malvan, the second Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft, was delivered to the Indian Navy on 31 March 2026 and is scheduled for commissioning on 22 July 2026.
The Mahe-class ASW-SWC
- Classification: Anti-Submarine Warfare — Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) for littoral ASW, mine warfare and Low Intensity Maritime Operations.
- Builder: Cochin Shipyard Limited; reported indigenous content >80%.
Design & capabilities
- Dimensions & displacement: approximately 80 metres length; about 1,100 tonnes displacement.
- Propulsion: waterjets to support shallow-draft operations and enhanced manoeuvrability.
- Sensors & weapons: fitted with advanced sensors, lightweight torpedoes and multifunctional anti-submarine rocket systems.
Operational role & fleet impact
- Area of operations: coastal and littoral zones where submarine detection is challenging.
- Replacement role: intended to replace Abhay-class corvettes as a smaller coastal ASW platform.
- Primary tasks: ASW patrols, mine-countermeasure support, surveillance and LIMO tasks.
Key facts for exams
- Delivery & commissioning: delivered 31 Mar 2026; commissioning scheduled 22 Jul 2026.
- Indigenisation: >80% indigenous content indicates growing domestic naval design and construction capability.
- Shipyard note: Cochin Shipyard is a major public-sector yard involved in naval shipbuilding.
- Propulsion concept: waterjets are preferred for high-speed shallow-water ASW craft due to reduced draft and agility.