Indian Navy commissions anti-submarine warfare vessel INS Mahe

• The Indian Navy commissioned INS Mahe, the first of the indigenously designed and built Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), on November 24.

Key points on INS Mahe:

• The contract for building eight ASW SWC ships was signed between the Ministry of Defence and Cochin Shipyard Limited on April 30, 2019.

• Designed and constructed by Cochin Shipyard Limited, Kochi, INS Mahe is the lead ship of eight vessels in her class. 

• The commissioning of Mahe marks the arrival of a new generation of indigenous shallow-water combatants — sleek, swift, and resolutely Indian. 

• With over 80 percent indigenous content, the Mahe-class showcases India’s growing mastery in warship design, construction and integration.

• With the ship’s blend of firepower, stealth and mobility, it is designed to hunt submarines, conduct coastal patrols, and secure India's vital maritime approaches. 

• 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 and features technologically advanced machinery and control systems.

• Equipped with torpedoes and anti-submarine rockets, INS Mahe was delivered to the Navy on October 23.

• Named after the historic coastal town of Mahe on the Malabar coast and a former French colony, the ship’s crest features an ‘Urumi’ — the flexible sword of Kalarippayattu, symbolising agility, precision, and lethal grace. 

• The ship’s mascot, the Cheetah, embodies speed and focus, while the motto “Silent Hunters” reflects the ship’s stealth, vigilance, and unyielding readiness.