NEWS: Indian Navy commissioned INS Mangrol at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, to strengthen anti-submarine warfare in coastal and shallow waters.

KEY FEATURES

• Third of eight Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC).
• Built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi, with over 80% indigenous content.
• Part of a 16-craft programme to replace Abhay-class corvettes; GRSE builds the other eight Arnala-class vessels.
• Named after a coastal town in

WEAPONS & TECHNOLOGY

• Abhay hull-mounted sonar, lightweight torpedoes and indigenous anti-submarine rocket launcher.
• Maareech torpedo decoy system developed by DRDO.
• Waterjet propulsion → High manoeuvrability in shallow waters; maximum speed of 25 knots.

OTHER ROLES

Sub-surface surveillance, coastal mine-laying, search and rescue, and low-intensity maritime operations (LIMO).