The Ministry of Defence announced on 22 August 2026 that the Indian Navy has received Mangrol, the third Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft constructed by Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi. The vessel was formally handed over on 21 August 2026. This delivery marks another step in India’s effort to build military ships within the country rather than importing them.
What the ship carries and can do
Mangrol is built with over 80 percent of its content sourced domestically. The craft is designed to detect submarines underwater, conduct anti-submarine operations in coastal areas, perform low-intensity maritime operations, and carry out mine warfare tasks. The ship is powered by waterjets and equipped with modern weapons including torpedoes and anti-submarine rockets. It also has advanced radar and sonar systems for detection and tracking.
The vessel takes its name from a coastal town and minor port in Junagadh district, Gujarat, which serves as a fishing harbour. It also honours the earlier INS Mangrol, a minesweeper that served in the Indian Navy until 2004, keeping alive a naval tradition of reusing honourable ship names.
What this means for you
This delivery reflects the Indian government’s push towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing, known as Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Rather than buying military vessels from other countries, India is now building them domestically, which keeps money within the economy and builds local expertise. The successful construction and delivery of three such craft shows that Indian shipyards can manufacture complex military equipment, reducing dependence on foreign suppliers for naval security.