• The Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) launched two anti-submarine warfare shallow water crafts — Malpe and Mulki — which were manufactured for the Indian Navy.

• Malpe and Mulki are fourth and fifth ships of the Eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft project, being built by Cochin Shipyard Ltd, for the Indian Navy.

• A contract for building eight vessels was signed between the Ministry of Defence and the CSL on April 30, 2019.

• The first three ships in the series — INS Mahe, INS Malvan and INS Mangrol — were launched in December 2023. 

• The Mahe Class of Ships will replace the in-service Abhay class ASW Corvettes of the Indian Navy and are designed to undertake anti-submarine operations in coastal waters, Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO) and Mine Laying Operations including subsurface surveillance.

• They are named after ports of strategic importance along the coast of India, and will look to carry forward the glorious legacy of the erstwhile minesweepers which were their namesake.

• The vessels are 78 m long, 11.36 m wide with a draught of about 2.7 m. The displacement is about 900 tonnes, with a maximum speed of 25 knots and endurance of 1,800 nautical miles.

• The ships are designed to fit indigenously developed, state-of-the-art underwater sensors.

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