Malwan-Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft

The Indian Navy received ‘Malwan’, the second of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC), on March 31, 2026. The vessel has been indigenously designed and constructed by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) at Kochi, in accordance with the Navy’s specifications and classification rules of DNV.

Named after the historic coastal town of Malwan in Maharashtra, the ship reflects India’s rich maritime legacy, closely associated with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The naming also revives the legacy of the earlier INS Malwan, a minesweeper that served the Navy until 2003, continuing the tradition of preserving distinguished warship names.

The newly inducted vessel is designed for underwater surveillance and Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) operations in coastal waters. It is also capable of undertaking Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO) and mine warfare tasks, enhancing India’s coastal defense capabilities.

Measuring around 80 metres in length with a displacement of 1,100 tons, the waterjet-propelled craft is equipped with torpedoes, multifunctional anti-submarine rockets, and advanced sensors, including modern radar and sonar systems.