India commissions INS Malvan, second Mahe-class ASW shallow-water vessel

The Indian Navy on Wednesday commissioned INS Malvan, the second of eight indigenously designed and built Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC). The vessel, which officially entered service during a formal ceremony held at the naval base in Karwar, is said to give a major boost to India’s littoral combat capabilities.Warship named after Malvan, honoring Shivaji Maharaj's maritime legacy​The newly inducted warship inherits the proud legacy of her namesake – an inshore minesweeper that served the Indian Navy for 19 years before being decommissioned in 2003. The name itself connects to the historical coastal town of Malvan in Maharashtra, a region deeply tied to the legendary maritime heritage of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.​Reflecting this warrior lineage, the ship’s crest prominently features the ‘Bagh Nakha’ (Tiger’s Claw), the iconic weapon used by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Encircling the claws are ocean waves, symbolising agility, tactical audacity, and constant vigilance along the nation's coastlines. Meanwhile, the ship's motto “Silent Claws” reflects the vessel's primary doctrine to hunt silently in coastal waters and strike adversary underwater threats swiftly.Water-jet propulsion reduces acoustic signature for shallow operationsThe vessel's capabilities include shallow-water surveillance, mine-laying and anti-submarine operations where larger surface ships face maneuvering constraints. Notably, the Mahe-class vessels are the largest warships in the Indian Navy to utilise water-jet propulsion rather than conventional propellers. This design minimises underwater acoustic signatures, drastically improves agility in shallow littoral zones, and reduces susceptibility to underwater obstacles.EAM Jaishankar Raises Safety Of Indian Seafarers With Russia's Lavrov After Black Sea AttackThe commissioning ceremony was presided over by Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, in presence of Western Naval Command's Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, alongside senior officers, shipbuilders from Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), and naval veterans. Maritime security vital for protecting sea trade routes, says Air ChiefThe Air Chief Marshal emphasised the pivotal role of maritime security in protecting sea lines of communication. He noted that uninterrupted oceanic trade forms the bedrock of national economic prosperity in an increasingly turbulent geopolitical climate. ​Highlighting the warship’s 80% indigenous content, he praised the Indian Navy's long-standing leadership in self-reliance and commended the Navy's practice of embedding design and engineering officers directly inside shipyards during construction. He reaffirmed the imperative for seamless tri-service integration, noting that joint synergy across the Army, Navy, and Air Force remains critical for triumph in multi-domain conflicts.

Karwar: The Indian Navy commissioned Malvan, the second of the Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) on Wednesday.The ceremony was presided over by Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, in the presence of Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command. Other senior naval officers, representatives from Cochin Shipyard Ltd., Kochi, and veterans were in attendance.Karwar, Karnataka: The Indian Navy commissioned INS Malvan, an indigenously built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), at INS Kadamba Naval Base in Karwar. Built by Cochin Shipyard Limited, the 80-metre-long, 1,100-tonne warship is equipped with advanced sonar,… pic.twitter.com/fW7xZbJsNS— IANS (@ians_india) July 22, 2026 On the occasion, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said, "We all understand how maritime security is important for any nation, as maritime routes decide trade and trade decides its destiny. Indian Ocean region is important to us. Indian Navy is playing a vital role in ensuring secure sea lines of communication and trade continues unhindered. With 80% indigenous content in this warship, we will soon realise the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. Indian Navy, right from the beginning, adopted this mantra, even though we (IAF) started very late on this track as various sectors take different speeds of time to grow."Karwar, Karnataka: Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh says, "...At the outset, let me thank the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, for inviting me to this unique occasion. I don't think that, as an officer in blue, I would have otherwise had the opportunity… pic.twitter.com/9Zq2XmpeAT— IANS (@ians_india) July 22, 2026 "I hope the other two services, especially the IAF, learn the lesson as to how the Navy has got this concept right," he added.Built at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi, Malvan epitomises India's Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision in modern naval shipbuilding and design. With over 80 per cent indigenous content, the ship exemplifies India's growing mastery in warship design, construction and integration.Bengaluru To Host India-US Civil Space Joint Working Group Meeting in August On the occasion, Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan said, "Today marks another significant milestone in India's maritime journey. With over 80% indigenous content is yet another testimony to India's growing self-reliance in defence manufacturing. Malvan becomes first Indian naval ship to be commissioned at Karwar and the seventh ship to be commissioned this year, with another 12 to follow. The ship reflects India's rich heritage."#WATCH | Karwar, Karnataka | Vice Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan says, “It is my privilege and honour to welcome each one of you to Naval Base Karwar on this momentous occasion of commissioning of INS Malvan into the Indian Navy… Today marks another… pic.twitter.com/F6D0da0Ift— ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2026 The commissioning of Malvan marks the continued induction of a new generation of indigenous shallow-water warriors - sleek, swift and proudly Indian, the Defence Ministry said earlier.(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)