INS Mahe, the first Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), has been officially commissioned by the Indian Navy.
The ceremony took place towards the end of November at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai, and follows her delivery by CSL at the end of October.
Named after an historic town on the Malabar Coast, which stretches down India’s western coastline to its tip, the 78-metre warship is the third of 16 ASW SWCs to be delivered under the programme.
In total the Kochi shipyard will be responsible for constructing half the ships in the class; the other eight are being built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in partnership with fellow shipbuilder Larsen & Toubro. All 16 ships are scheduled to be delivered by the middle of 2028.
As per an Indian Ministry of Defence press statement: “The commissioning of INS Mahe adds significant punch to the Indian Navy’s ASW capabilities, particularly in countering threats in the littorals.”
It went on: “Fitted with advanced weapons, sensors, and communication systems enabling it to detect, track, and neutralise sub-surface threats with precision, the ship can sustain prolonged operations in shallow waters.”
More than 80% of the ship’s sensors, weapons and systems have been designed and produced domestically.
- You can read more details on the Indian MoD website