In News:

The Indian Navy commissioned INS Mahe, the first Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai. With this induction, India has taken a significant step in strengthening its coastal and littoral anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities under the Western Naval Command.

About INS Mahe

• Type: Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC)
• Class: Mahe-class (lead ship of eight vessels)
• Role: First line of coastal defence, designed to operate in shallow and near-shore waters
• Operational Command: Western Naval Command

INS Mahe is specially optimised to detect, track, and neutralise sub-surface threats in coastal regions where larger surface combatants face manoeuvrability constraints.

Design and Indigenous Content

• Designed & Built by: Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi
• Indigenisation: Over 80% indigenous content
• Industrial Ecosystem: Contributions from Bharat Electronics Limited, L&T Defence, Mahindra Defence Systems, NPOL, and more than 20 MSMEs
• A major milestone under Aatmanirbhar Bharat in naval shipbuilding

Key Features

• ASW Specialisation: Optimised for coastal and shallow water operations
• Advanced Combat Suite:
  • Modern weapons
  • High-precision sensors
  • Secure and integrated communication systems
• Stealth & Endurance: Designed for prolonged operations in littoral waters
• Modern Machinery: Technologically advanced propulsion and integrated control systems
• Motto: “Silent Hunters” - reflecting stealth, vigilance, and readiness

Symbolism and Heritage

• Namesake: Historic coastal town of Mahe on the Malabar Coast
• Crest: Features the Urumi, the flexible sword of Kalaripayattu, symbolising agility and precision
• Mascot: Cheetah, representing speed and focus

Strategic Significance

• Boosts ASW Capability: Enhances India’s ability to counter submarine threats in littoral zones
• Strengthens Coastal Security Grid: Acts as the forward layer of a multi-tiered maritime defence architecture
• Force Multiplier: Integrates seamlessly with larger surface combatants, submarines, and naval aviation assets
• Indigenisation Push: Demonstrates India’s growing capacity to design, construct, and field complex naval combatants using domestic technology