Indian Navy to commission Mahe, first Mahe-class ASW shallow water craft, marking major boost to indigenous naval capabilities
New Delhi, November 16. In a significant step forward for India’s indigenous naval shipbuilding programme, the Indian Navy will commission Mahe – the first vessel in the Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) series – at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai November 24. The ceremony will mark a major milestone in India’s efforts to expand its home-grown capability to safeguard coastal and near-shore waters amid evolving maritime security challenges.
Built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Mahe represents the latest achievement under the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative, which aims to reduce dependency on foreign defence platforms by promoting domestic design and construction. Although compact in size, the ship brings together speed, stealth, and advanced antisubmarine warfare capabilities critical for dominating the littoral environment, where threats from small, stealthy submarines are increasing.
Designed to detect and neutralise underwater threats, Mahe will play a key role in protecting India’s maritime approaches, supporting coastal patrols, and strengthening the Navy’s overall layered defence architecture. Its combination of manoeuvrability and modern sensors makes it particularly suited for operations in shallow waters – an area increasingly central to regional naval strategy.
With more than 80 percent indigenous content, the Mahe-class serves as a showcase of the growing sophistication of India’s shipbuilding ecosystem, from hull construction and propulsion systems to advanced onboard sensors and combat technologies. Its commissioning further underscores the Navy’s long-term focus on fielding a fully indigenous fleet of frontline and auxiliary vessels.
Named after the historic coastal town of Mahe on the Malabar coast, the ship carries a crest depicting the Urumi, a flexible sword associated with Kalaripayattu, Kerala’s ancient martial art. The emblem symbolises the vessel’s defining attributes: agility, precision, and lethal effectiveness.
The induction of Mahe is expected to inaugurate a new generation of Indian-built shallow-water combatants – sleek, swift, and tailored to the Navy’s evolving operational needs. As additional vessels in the class join the fleet in the coming years, they will significantly strengthen India’s capacity to secure its near-shore waters and counter undersea threats with home-grown technology.
