Navy commissions INS Malvan warship to bolster coastal anti-submarine capabilities
Named after the historic coastal town in Maharashtra, Malvan is the second of eight Mahe-class ASW-SWCs being built by Cochin Shipyard Limited for the Western Fleet. The warship has more than 80% indigenous content, reflecting India’s push towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
Also read: Check capabilities of submarine hunter INS Malvan and why it matters
Malvan is the first Indian warship to be commissioned at Karwar, and the seventh one to be commissioned this year.
INS Malvan is designed to counter underwater threats
The ASW-SWC programme has been launched to enhance India’s ability to counter underwater threats in shallow coastal waters. Under the programme, a total of 16 vessels are being constructed in two classes—eight Arnala-class ships for the Eastern Fleet by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers and eight Mahe-class ships for the Western Fleet by Cochin Shipyard Limited.
The vessels are designed to undertake subsurface surveillance, search-and-attack missions and coordinated anti-submarine warfare operations alongside naval aircraft. They are also capable of performing secondary roles such as minelaying and search-and-rescue operations, while improving the protection of ports.Malvan is equipped with advanced anti-submarine weapons, including a forward-mounted RBU-6000 rocket launcher, triple 324 mm lightweight torpedo tubes on both port and starboard sides armed with Advanced Light-Weight Torpedoes, and anti-submarine mine-laying rails.
For self-defence, the vessel is fitted with torpedo decoy launching systems supplied by Mahindra Defence Systems as part of the Integrated Anti-Submarine Warfare Defence Suite. Its surface warfare capability includes a 30 mm naval gun and two 12.7 mm stabilised remote-controlled guns.
Indigenous warship with stealth features
The Mahe-class vessels have a displacement ranging from 896 to 1,100 tonnes and are powered by three 6 MW marine diesel engines coupled with water jets, making them the largest Indian Navy warships to use pump-jet propulsion. They have a top speed of 25 knots, an operational range of 1,800 nautical miles at 14 knots and an endurance of 14 days.
The warships incorporate stealth features, including reduced radar cross-section, low acoustic signature and reduced infrared signature. The programme includes contributions from domestic companies such as Bharat Electronics, Mahindra Defence and Larsen & Toubro.
Induction amid rising regional submarine presence
The induction of Malvan comes as submarine activity increases across the Indian Ocean Region. China continues to expand its conventional and nuclear-powered submarine fleet, while Pakistan has inducted the first of its eight Hangor-class submarines into service alongside its existing fleet of five submarines.
The warship is named after the historic coastal town of Malvan in Maharashtra, reflecting the maritime legacy associated with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It also carries forward the legacy of the erstwhile INS Malwan, which served the Indian Navy until 2003. The ship’s crest features the Bagh Nakha, symbolising courage, agility and audacity, under the motto “Silent Claws.”
