| Indigenous Sonar • Equipped with indigenously developed sonar systems for underwater surveillance. • Outfitted with lightweight torpedoes, ASW rockets, mines, close-in weapon systems, and remote-controlled guns. |
- Two anti-submarine warfare (ASW) shallow watercraft vessels (4th and 5th out of 8) were launched at Cochin Shipyard.
- Named INS Malpe and INS Mulki are designed for coastal defence and anti-submarine operations.
- These Mahe-class vessels, replacing the in-service Abhay-class ASW corvettes, are designed for:
- Anti-submarine warfare in coastal waters.
- Low-intensity maritime operations.
- Mine-laying missions.
- Search and rescue operations.
- Each ship is powered by 12 MW of installed propulsion power, providing significant operational capabilities.
- The contract for these eight vessels was signed between the Ministry of Defence and Cochin Shipyard Ltd in April 2019.
- This project aligns with India’s drive for self-reliance in defence manufacturing, especially given the current geopolitical landscape.
Dig Deeper: Read about India’s SMART Anto-Submarine Missile.
