Indian Navy to Commission Mangrol Anti-Submarine Warfare Craft on October 12

On 12th of October, 2026, the Indian Navy is set to commission its third Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), Mangrol at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai. It is built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi. VAdm Sanjay Vatsayan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, will preside the flag-in ceremony. This event will be attended by senior naval and defense officials, several representatives from the Ministry of Defense and Cochin Shipyard Limited, veterans and representatives of indigenous weapons and sensor manufacturers.

Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft Defined

An Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft is a military ship whose role is to detect and defeat submarines in shallow waters such as those close to coastlines and harbors. Such waters are vital as they provide access to ports and harbors among other coastal facilities.

It is possible that larger warships could be restricted from maneuvering in shallow waters, but vessels like Mangrol are able to navigate and perform submarine surveillance and defeat, maritime operations of low intensity and some mine warfare missions.

The vessel also works together with maritime patrol aircrafts and other naval ships in providing maritime surveillance and defense.

Detection Devices and Weapons on Mangrol

Mangrol has systems that are meant to detect any underwater threat and conduct anti-submarine warfare.

• Abhay Hull Mounted Sonar: Used for detecting underwater objects and possible submarine threats.
• Lightweight torpedoes: These are used to attack submarine threats underwater.
• Anti-submarine rocket launcher: This system is meant to aid in the anti-submarine warfare mission of the vessel.
• Maareech Torpedo Decoy System: This is a system that helps to defend a vessel against torpedo threats.

This is a combination of detection devices and weapons that aims to enhance the Navy’s capability against underwater threats in coastal waters.

Indigenous Construction and Aatmanirbhar Bharat

Constructed by the Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi, Mangrol is constructed from over 80% indigenous components. The construction of Mangrol embodies the growth in domestic capacity of designing, building and integrating warships, their weaponry and sensor systems.

Mangrol project fits well within the Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat policies of the Indian government that encourage domestic manufacturing and lessen dependence on foreign sources for defence hardware.

Indigenous shipbuilding could also help with domestic manufacturers, engineers and technologies that could be used for future naval warships.