The second Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft, Malwan, has been delivered to the Indian Navy by Cochin Shipyard Limited, Kochi. The vessel has been indigenously designed and built to Indian Navy specifications under DNV classification rules. It strengthens India’s coastal defence and adds to the Navy’s growing indigenous fleet.
Ship Name and Heritage
Malwan is named after the historic coastal town of Malwan in Maharashtra. The name reflects the maritime legacy associated with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It also continues the tradition of preserving distinguished naval names, as the earlier INS Malwan served as an Indian Navy minesweeper until 2003.
Role and Operational Capability
The ship is designed for multiple roles in shallow coastal waters. These include:
- Underwater surveillance.
- Anti-submarine warfare operations.
- Low intensity maritime operations.
- Mine warfare support.
It is equipped with torpedoes, multifunctional anti-submarine rockets, advanced radars, and sonar systems. The waterjet propulsion system supports manoeuvrability in littoral areas.
Design and Indigenous Content
The vessel is about 80 metres long and displaces around 1,100 tonnes. It has over 80% indigenous content. The ship integrates systems developed by Indian defence firms, including MSMEs. This marks the role of domestic manufacturing in naval shipbuilding and supports the Aatmanirbhar Bharat objective.
Strategic Significance
The delivery of Malwan marks another step in indigenous warship construction. ASW Shallow Water Crafts are important for protecting ports, coastal approaches, and near-shore maritime zones. Their deployment improves the Navy’s ability to detect and counter submarine threats in shallow waters.
Last Modified: April 28, 2026