The Indian Navy is all set to commission Malvan, the second of the Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft, on Wednesday.
Built by Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) CSL, Malvan symbolises India's Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision in modern naval shipbuilding and design, a Defence spokesperson had recently said.
The ship has over 80 per cent indigenous content. According to the spokesperson, Malvan exemplifies India's growing mastery in warship design, construction and integration. "Compact, yet formidable, the ship reflects agility, precision and endurance, qualities essential for asserting dominance in shallow waters," the spokesperson said.
The commissioning of Malvan marks the continued induction of a new generation of indigenous shallow-water warriors—sleek, swift and proudly Indian, a statement from the defence ministry said.
The ship, designed and constructed by CSL to suit the requirements of the Indian Navy, is equipped for underwater surveillance, Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) operations in coastal waters, and Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO) along with mine warfare capabilities.
Measuring approximately 80 metres in length and displacing 1,100 tons, the waterjet-propelled ASW SWCs are equipped with torpedoes, multifunctional anti-submarine rockets, and state-of-the-art sensors including advanced radars and sonar systems.
'Malwan' is named after the historic coastal town of Malwan in Maharashtra, which is closely associated with the maritime legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The ship also carries forward the legacy of the earlier INS Malwan, an Indian Navy minesweeper that served until 2003.
The ceremony will be 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, Western Naval Command.
