Indian Navy Receives INS Mangrol, Third Indigenous ASW Shallow Water Craft from CSL Kochi

INS Mangrol, the third Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft constructed by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi, was delivered to the Indian Navy on August 21, 2026, adding another indigenous platform to the service’s coastal warfare fleet.

The vessel has been built with more than 80 per cent indigenous content and is designed for operations in shallow and littoral waters. Its mission set includes underwater surveillance, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), low-intensity maritime operations (LIMO) and mine warfare, making it a specialised asset for coastal security tasks.

Mangrol is fitted with advanced torpedoes and anti-submarine rockets, along with modern radar and sonar systems. These systems are intended to help the ship detect and engage underwater threats while improving the Navy’s awareness of activity in coastal waters.

The ship is powered by waterjets, a propulsion arrangement that gives it the manoeuvrability needed in shallow seas and near-shore environments. That combination of propulsion, sensors and weapons makes the craft suitable for the emerging security challenges the Navy faces in the littoral domain.

The name Mangrol is drawn from the coastal town and minor port of Mangrol in Junagadh district of Gujarat, which is associated with maritime activity and marine fishing. The naming also continues the legacy of the earlier INS Mangrol, an Indian Naval Minesweeper that remained in service until 2004.

By reusing the name, the Navy has carried forward a tradition of preserving the memory of distinguished warships while assigning the title to a new-generation platform built for contemporary operational needs.

The delivery of INS Mangrol adds to the Indian Navy’s inventory of specialised vessels for coastal security and underwater warfare. Once inducted, it is expected to strengthen the service’s ability to conduct anti-submarine operations, surveillance and mine warfare in strategically important littoral waters.

Its high indigenous content also reflects the growing depth of India’s domestic defence manufacturing and shipbuilding ecosystem. More broadly, the handover of Mangrol is another step in the Navy’s indigenous shipbuilding programme and aligns with the Government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision, which seeks to expand India’s ability to design, build and deliver specialised military platforms at home.