The future INS Malpe seen here at its launch ceremony on 9 September 2024. It was launched at Cochin Shipyard Limited together with its sister ship, Mulki . (India Ministry of Defence)
India's Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) has launched the country's fourth and fifth Mahe-class anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft (ASW SWC) vessels.
Both vessels were launched on 9 September at CSL's facilities in Kochi, reads a statement issued by India's Ministry of Defence on the next day.
The fourth-of-class will be known as INS Malpe while the fifth ship will be in service as INS Mulki once commissioned.
First-of-class Mahé was launched by CSL in November 2023.
India is building a total of 16 submarine-hunting vessels under its ASW SWC programme and the vessels are being constructed across several shipyards.
Eight vessels are being built under a Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) teaming while the remaining eight are being built by CSL.
The GRSE and L&T-built vessels are known as the Arnala-class ASW SWCs, although these vessels are virtually similar in design to the Mahe-class vessels being constructed by CSL.
The Mahe class has an overall length of 78 m, an overall beam of 11.4 m, and displaces about 900 tonnes at full load. Propelled by water-jets, the vessel can reach a top speed of about 25 kt.
Besides ASW operations, all 16 ASW SWC vessels will undertake low-intensity maritime operations and mine-laying duties once they are in service.
The ASW SWC vessels will replace the Indian Navy's Abhay-class corvettes, which have been progressively retired since 2017.
For more information, please seeMahe class (ASW SHALLOW WATER CRAFT (PC/PSO) .
Looking to read the full article?
Gain unlimited access to Janes news and more...