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The Indian Navy has recently received ‘Mahe’, the first of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW SWCs), built indigenously by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi. The induction marks a major step towards bolstering India’s littoral (coastal) defence capabilities and advancing the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat in naval shipbuilding.

About Mahe – ASW Shallow Water Craft

• Builder: Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi
• Delivered to: Indian Navy
• Named after:Mahe, a historic port town in the Union Territory of Puducherry, symbolizing India’s rich maritime heritage.
• Classification: Designed and constructed under the rules of Det Norske Veritas (DNV) classification society.
• Displacement: Around 1,100 tons
• Length: Approximately 78 metres
• Indigenous Content: Over 80%, showcasing India’s growing self-reliance in naval design and shipbuilding.

Design and Features

• Advanced Warfare Capabilities
  • Equipped with torpedoes and multi-functional anti-submarine rockets.
  • Integrated radar and sonar systems for precise detection and engagement of underwater threats.
  • Designed for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) operations in shallow coastal waters.
• Operational Flexibility
  • Capable of underwater surveillance, mine-laying operations, and Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO).
  • Suitable for coastal defence, escort missions, and search and rescue operations in littoral zones.
• Sustainability and Efficiency
  • Compact yet powerful platform for quick maneuverability in shallow regions.
  • Built using modern shipbuilding technologies, ensuring durability, stealth, and operational efficiency.

Strategic Significance

• Enhancing ASW Capabilities:The induction of Mahe will significantly strengthen India’s anti-submarine warfare capacity in coastal waters, enabling faster response to sub-surface threats from enemy submarines or unmanned underwater vehicles.
• Maritime Security:Strengthens surveillance and security along India’s vast 7,500 km coastline, ensuring greater control over sea lines of communication (SLOCs) and exclusive economic zones (EEZs).
• Boost to Aatmanirbhar Bharat:The vessel, with more than 80% indigenous components, reflects the Make in India initiative’s success in the defence manufacturing sector. It reinforces India’s ambition to be a net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
• Support to Blue Water Aspirations:While designed for shallow waters, the ASW SWC fleet complements India’s blue-water naval capability by securing coastal zones — the first line of maritime defence.

About Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL)

• Established: 1972
• Location: Kochi, Kerala
• Ownership: Under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways
• CSL has emerged as one of India’s premier shipbuilding and repair facilities, with successful projects like:
  • INS Vikrant (India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier)
  • ASW Shallow Water Craft series