In Kerala, two indigenously designed and constructed Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Watercrafts built for the Indian Navy were launched at the Cochin Shipyard this morning. This is the fourth and fifth anti-submarine warfare shallow watercraft being built for the Navy. They will be christened INS Malpe and INS Mulki once commissioned into the Indian Navy.

The vessels are capable of conducting anti-submarine operations in coastal waters, low-intensity maritime and mine-laying operations, besides sub-surface surveillance and search and rescue operations. They are equipped with light-weight torpedoes, anti-submarine warfare rockets, a close-in weapon system, and remote-controlled guns. The vessel has a length of 78 m, a breadth of 11 m, and a full load displacement of 900 t. It can achieve a maximum speed of 25 knots. The launching ceremony was attended by the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command, Vice Admiral V Srinivas, Cochin Shipyard CMD, Madhu S Nair, and other senior officers of the Indian Navy, among others.