'Wagh Nakh' on its crest, how submarine-hunter INS Malvan will help the Navy shield India's coast

📌 Summary:

• Indian Navy commissioned INS Malvan, its second Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), at Karwar, Karnataka
• ASW-SWCs are specialised warships for anti-submarine and patrolling operations in the littoral zone — the shallow, strategically and economically critical waters near the shore
• INS Malvan is the 2nd of 8 Mahe-class vessels built by Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) and the 6th of 16 ASW-SWCs under construction by CSL and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata; over 80% of components are indigenous
• Named after coastal town Malvan (Maharashtra); crest bears the 'Bagh Nakha' (Wagh Nakh/tiger claw) linked to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj; motto 'Silent Claws' reflects stealth and lethality
• Strategic value: their low draught, advanced sonar and high manoeuvrability let them detect stealthy diesel-electric submarines that larger warships cannot pursue, protecting harbours, sea lanes, offshore energy installations and naval bases
• The 16-vessel fleet creates a dedicated anti-submarine screen along the coast, freeing larger warships for blue-water operations and deterring covert underwater intrusions

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 Science & Tech (indigenous Defence platforms) and Internal/Maritime Security — coastal defence, self-reliance in shipbuilding (Atmanirbhar Bharat), and protection of sea lines of communication

📝 Prelims Facts:

• INS Malvan: 2nd Mahe-class ASW-SWC; builder Cochin Shipyard Ltd; >80% indigenous content
• First of class INS Mahe commissioned Nov 2025; 16 ASW-SWCs planned (CSL + GRSE)

🔑 Key Term: Littoral zone — the shallow coastal maritime belt near the shore, strategically and economically critical, where shallow-water craft operate against submarines