Navy Official Praises INS Malvan's Advanced IPMS as the Engineering Hub Enhancing Agility in Shallow Waters

In a major step toward enhancing India's maritime security and anti-submarine warfare preparedness, the Indian Navy commissioned INS Malvan, the second vessel of the indigenously built Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), at Karwar on Wednesday. The induction of the warship represents another milestone in the country's Aatmanirbhar Bharat drive to strengthen domestic defence manufacturing.

The commissioning ceremony took place on July 22, 2026, marking the formal entry of the advanced shallow-water combat vessel into active naval service. Speaking during the event, Commanding Officer Pravin Tiwari recalled the ship's development journey, noting that its keel was laid in 2023. Following an extensive series of evaluations covering weapon systems, onboard sensors, stability, and sea performance, the vessel was handed over to the Indian Navy on March 31, 2026.

According to Tiwari, INS Malvan has successfully completed all mandatory sea acceptance trials and is now fully operational. He highlighted that the ship is equipped with modern torpedoes, launch systems, electronic warfare (EW) and electronic support measures (ESM), along with an advanced combat management system developed by Indian industry, making it a strong example of the country's growing defence self-reliance.

Providing insight into the ship's engineering systems, another Navy official described the Machinery Control Room as the operational heart of the vessel. He explained that INS Malvan is powered by three high-speed diesel engines, enabling exceptional manoeuvrability, rapid acceleration, and high-speed operations in shallow coastal waters—key capabilities for its anti-submarine warfare mission.

The official also highlighted the vessel's Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS), a sophisticated digital control network that manages both propulsion and auxiliary systems. By consolidating critical engineering functions onto a single interface, the IPMS allows the crew to continuously monitor the ship's performance and overall health from one console.

He added that this high level of automation significantly reduces crew workload while improving operational efficiency, reliability, and readiness during missions. The commissioning ceremony was presided over by Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, and attended by Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command. Senior Indian Navy officials, representatives from Cochin Shipyard Ltd., and naval veterans were also present to mark the occasion. With the induction of INS Malvan, the Indian Navy further strengthens its coastal defence capabilities while showcasing the growing success of India's indigenous shipbuilding and defence technology ecosystem.