Why in the News?  

The Indian Navy launched two Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) vessels at Cochin Shipyard, marking the fourth and fifth ships in a series of eight. The contract for designing, constructing, and delivering these ships was signed between the Ministry of Defence and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) in April 2019, enhancing India's maritime defense capabilities. 

About the Vessels 

• The vessels will be named INS Malpe and INS Mulki once commissioned. 
• They are part of the Mahe-class ships, designed to replace the Abhay-class ASW Corvettes. 
• Length: 78 metres. 
• Width: 11.36 metres. 
• Maximum speed: 25 knots. 
• Endurance: 1,800 nautical miles. 
• It can conduct low-intensity maritime operations, mine-laying, search and rescue missions. 
• It is equipped with indigenously developed sonar for underwater surveillance. 
• Each vessel has an installed propulsion power of about 12 MW.

INS Malpe and INS Mulki 

Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC)

• It is a class of specialized Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) vessels designed for anti-submarine operations in shallow coastal waters. 
• They are being built for the Indian Navy by Cochin Shipyard (CSL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE). 
• They are equipped with an RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launcher and two lightweight torpedo-tube launchers to neutralize enemy submarines. 
• Ships  
  • Mahe class: Mahe, Malwan, Mangrol, Malpe, Mulki  
  • Arnala class: Arnala, Anjadip, Amini, Agray, Androth, Akshay