Indian Navy to Commission Indigenous ASW Vessel INS Malvan on July 22

The Indian Navy is set to commission INS Malvan , the second Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) , on July 22 , marking another major milestone in India's drive towards indigenous naval modernisation and enhanced maritime security. The induction of the vessel comes as the Navy strengthens its coastal defence capabilities amid increasing submarine activity in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) . The commissioning ceremony will be presided over by Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh in the presence of Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan , Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, along with senior naval officers, veterans and representatives of Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) .

Built at CSL, Kochi , INS Malvan is a shining example of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, with over 80 per cent indigenous content . The vessel reflects India's growing capability in designing, constructing and integrating advanced warships, while reducing dependence on imported defence equipment. Compact yet highly capable, it has been designed specifically to operate in shallow coastal waters , where larger warships often face operational constraints.

The Mahe-class ASW vessels are equipped with advanced indigenous systems, including hull-mounted sonar , Low Frequency Variable Depth Sonar (LFVDS) , lightweight torpedoes , anti-submarine rocket launchers and integrated combat management systems. Powered by water-jet propulsion , the ship offers superior manoeuvrability, lower acoustic signatures and the agility needed to detect, track and neutralise hostile submarines. Besides anti-submarine warfare, INS Malvan can undertake mine-laying, maritime surveillance, harbour defence, escort missions, search-and-rescue operations and other low-intensity maritime security tasks.

The commissioning assumes greater strategic significance as the Indian Navy seeks to strengthen underwater surveillance in response to expanding submarine deployments in the Indian Ocean Region , including the growing presence of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) . With a coastline stretching over 7,500 kilometres , more than 1,300 islands , major ports and offshore energy installations, India requires specialised shallow-water platforms capable of protecting critical maritime infrastructure and securing vital sea lanes.

INS Malvan is the second vessel in the eight-ship Mahe-class programme approved by the Ministry of Defence to modernise the Navy's anti-submarine fleet. It follows the commissioning of INS Mahe in November 2025 and will gradually replace ageing shallow-water assets with modern indigenous platforms.

Named after the historic coastal town of Malvan in Maharashtra's Sindhudurg district , home to the iconic Sindhudurg Fort built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj , the vessel also celebrates India's rich maritime heritage. Describing the Mahe-class ships as "sleek, swift and proudly Indian," the Navy said the induction of INS Malvan underscores the country's commitment to defence self-reliance, advanced shipbuilding and safeguarding its strategic interests across the Indian Ocean.