Indian Navy Submarine Hunter INS Malvan: The Indian Navy is ready to commission Malvan, the second ship in the Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft series, on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. The ceremony will be led by Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, and Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, will also be present. The Defence Ministry said the ship shows India’s push for self-reliant warship building and that it carries over 80% indigenous content.
The Defence Ministry also described the ship as one that is “Compact, yet formidable, the ship reflects agility, precision and endurance, qualities essential for asserting dominance in shallow waters.” It added that Malvan carries over 80% indigenous content, which makes it a strong example of India’s growing ability to design, build, and integrate warships at home.
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What makes Malvan dangerous to enemy submarines
Malvan is built for anti-submarine work in shallow and coastal waters. It can watch underwater areas, take part in Anti-Submarine Warfare missions, carry out Low Intensity Maritime Operations, and also support mine warfare tasks.
The Mahe-class weapons package includes a forward-mounted RBU-6000 rocket launcher, triple 324 mm lightweight torpedo tubes on both sides, and anti-submarine mine-laying rails. For self-defence, the ship also uses torpedo decoy launchers supplied by Mahindra Defence Systems as part of the Integrated Anti-Submarine Warfare Defence Suite. For surface combat, it carries a 30 mm naval gun and two 12.7 mm stabilised remote-controlled guns.
The ship is also built to work independently in busy and contested littoral waters. That matters because these are the kinds of waters where submarines can hide more easily and where fast, small warships are needed to react quickly.
INS Malvan: Features
The Mahe-class ships are compact but packed with modern systems. Official Navy material says the ASW-SWC ships are about 78 metres long and displace around 900 tons, while other official briefings describe Malvan as being about 80 metres long and around 1,100 tons. They can move at a top speed of 25 knots, cover about 1,800 nautical miles at 14 knots, and stay at sea for around 14 days. They are powered by three 6 MW marine diesel engines linked to water jets, and the Navy says they are the largest Indian warships to use pump-jet propulsion.
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Both the Mahe-class and the earlier Arnala-class use stealth features too, including lower radar, sound, and infrared signatures. The programme has also drawn on Indian companies such as Bharat Electronics, Mahindra Defence, and Larsen & Toubro. The eight ships of this CSL-built Mahe-class are scheduled to be delivered between August 2025 and June 2028.
Historic Significance
Malvan takes its name from the historic coastal town in Maharashtra, a place linked with the sea legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The name also continues the old tradition of the earlier INS Malwan, which served the Navy until 2003.
Before commissioning, the Navy also showed off the ship’s crest on X. It said the design features the Bagh Nakha, which it described as a symbol of courage, agility and audacity. The crest is wrapped in waves and carries the motto “Silent Claws.” The Navy’s message on X also read: “Silent. Swift. Lethal.”
