Navy to commission sub hunter Malvan to counter China, Pak threat

The Indian Navy will commission the second of eight Mahe-class anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft (ASW-SWC), INS Malvan, in Kochi on Wednesday. This move underscores India’s efforts to bolster its indigenous naval capabilities against the increasing submarine deployments by China and Pakistan in the Indian Ocean region. The commissioning ceremony will be led by Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, Chief of the Indian Air Force, alongside Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command. INS Malvan was unveiled earlier this year with a crest symbolizing its mission: “Silent, Swift, Lethal.” The crest features the Bagh Nakha, a traditional weapon representing courage, agility, and audacity. The ship is named after the historic coastal town of Malvan, reflecting its connection to the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It replaces the older Abhay-class corvettes and is designed for low-intensity maritime operations and mine warfare. Built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), the 80-meter-long vessel displaces over 1,100 tonnes and uses waterjet propulsion. It is equipped with advanced systems such as torpedoes, anti-submarine rockets, modern radars, and sonar. The commissioning of INS Malvan comes as part of a broader initiative to expand India’s anti-submarine warfare fleet. The Indian Navy aims to induct 16 specialized ASW-SWCs to monitor and neutralize enemy submarines operating in coastal and shallow waters. These vessels are critical for protecting India’s extensive 7,516-kilometer coastline and ensuring the security of vital sea lines of communication. Over 80 percent of the components used in the construction of INS Malvan are domestically sourced, aligning with India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) vision. This high level of indigenous content highlights the nation’s progress in modern naval shipbuilding and design. The Mahe-class vessels are part of a larger 16-ship program, with the other eight units falling under the Arnala-class, which are being constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE). Both classes are designed for shallow-water operations, emphasizing agility, precision, and endurance. The Indian Navy currently operates approximately 145 warships and submarines and is pursuing an ambitious modernization plan to increase its fleet size to 200 by 2035. This expansion is driven by the intensifying regional maritime competition, particularly with China, which operates around 60 to 65 submarines, and Pakistan, which has an active fleet of eight submarines and is investing $5 billion in a modernization program to expand its fleet to 13 vessels. Recent developments indicate a rapid pace of naval procurement. Last month, the Navy inducted five indigenously built warships in a single batch, continuing its strategy of commissioning a new vessel or submarine roughly every 40 days. The navy plans to add nearly 50 support vessels over the next three to four years, responding to the growing pressures on key sea lanes and the heightened strategic rivalry in the Indo-Pacific. This sustained effort to modernize and expand its fleet reflects India’s commitment to securing its maritime interests and countering potential threats from neighboring powers.