India Set To Commission Two More Indigenous Warships Mahendragiri, Malwan In July

Last Updated:June 22, 2026, 13:02 IST

Stealth frigate Mahendragiri and Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft Malwan are expected to be commissioned in July. It will accelerate India’s indigenous naval build-up

Just 24 hours after the Indian Navy commissioned three indigenous warships, preparations are underway for the induction of two more Made-in-India combat platforms.

Stealth frigate Mahendragiri and Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) Malwan are expected to be commissioned in July. It will accelerate India’s indigenous naval build-up.

The twin inductions will take the number of indigenous naval platforms commissioned within weeks to five. This comes amid evolving maritime security challenges in the Indian Ocean Region. Sources told CNN-News18 that Mahendragiri is expected to be commissioned on the eastern seaboard, while Malwan is likely to join the fleet on the western coast.

Mahendragiri is the sixth warship of the Project 17A stealth frigate programme. Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, the vessel was launched in September 2023 and has since completed a series of harbour and sea acceptance trials ahead of induction.

The Project 17A programme has seven next-generation stealth frigates in total, with four ships constructed by MDL and three by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. The warships have been built using an integrated construction methodology that involves the assembly of large pre-outfitted blocks, reducing build timelines and improving construction efficiency.

Displacing around 6,670 tonnes and measuring nearly 149 metres in length, Mahendragiri is equipped with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, advanced surface-to-air missile systems, modern electronic warfare suites, network-centric combat systems and sophisticated surveillance sensors. The warship can also operate multi-role helicopters for anti-submarine warfare, surveillance and maritime strike missions.

The second platform, Malwan, is part of the Navy’s Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft programme. The ship was delivered to the Indian Navy earlier this year after successfully completing trials.

Designed specifically for operations in coastal and littoral waters, Malwan is equipped with advanced sonars and anti-submarine warfare systems to detect, track and engage hostile submarines.

The induction assumes significance as China continues to expand its naval footprint across the Indian Ocean Region. The People’s Liberation Army Navy, currently the world’s largest navy by fleet size, maintains a growing presence through regular deployments of warships, submarines and research vessels.

Pakistan is also enhancing its underwater warfare capability through the induction of Chinese-origin Hangor-class submarines. The programme is expected to expand Pakistan Navy’s submarine fleet over the coming years.

Once commissioned, Malwan will bolster the Navy’s layered anti-submarine warfare architecture that includes P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft, MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, Kamorta-class ASW corvettes and seabed surveillance systems.

Both Mahendragiri and Malwan have been built with high indigenous content and extensive participation from Indian industry. Their induction is expected to strengthen India’s maritime deterrence, sea denial capability and operational readiness across the Indian Ocean Region.

About the Author

Akash Sharma

Akash Sharma, Defence Correspondent, CNN-News 18, covers the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Railways. In addition, he also follows developments in the national capital. With an extensive experien...Read More

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