Indian Navy Commissions INS Mahe, First Indigenous ASW Shallow Water Craft

INS Mahe is the first of the Mahe-class ASW-SWCs, a new generation of indigenous shallow-water combatants described as sleek, swift, and resolutely Indian.

Written by Manish Kumar Pathak

Updated: November 25, 2025 02:00 AM IST

3 min read

The Indian Navy commissioned the INS Mahe, its first indigenous Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft. (@DDIndialive)

The Indian Navy commissioned the INS Mahe, its first indigenous Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft. (Express Photo by Akash Patil)

The Indian Navy commissioned INS Mahe, its first anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft (ASW-SWC) with over 80 per cent indigenous parts, at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai Monday after two years of rigorous sea trials.

Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi was invited as the chief guest for the first time in a naval commissioning ceremony hosted by Vice-Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command.

Speaking on the occasion, General Dwivedi said the induction of INS Mahe marks not just the arrival of a potent platform in the Navy’s order of battle but also reflects the nation’s growing ability to design, construct, and deploy complex warships using indigenous technology. “India’s Tricolour will fly high across the oceans because you will defend it,” he added.

General Dwivedi quoted American author Helen Keller to underline the importance of jointness among the services.

“Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much. So, as a soldier, we stood among seafarers. The strength of armed forces lies in synergy. The sea, land, and the skies form a single continuum of national security. And together, the Army-Navy and Air Force form the trinity of India’s strategic strength,” said General Dwivedi.

“In this age of multi-domain operations, our ability to act in concert from the depths of the ocean to the highest frontier will determine the security and influence of our republic.”

General Dwivedi added that the Army and Navy have always stood shoulder to shoulder in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions across the globe, as well as in amphibious operations. “The strength of armed forces lies in synergy, and Operation Sindoor is an apt example of this.”

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The ship is named after Mahe, a serene coastal enclave on the Malabar coast that forms part of the Union Territory of Puducherry. (Express Photo by Akash Patil)

Showcasing India’s increasing mastery
INS Mahe will operate as a “silent hunter” on the western seaboard, dedicated to safeguarding India’s maritime frontiers, officials said. They said the ship showcases India’s increasing mastery in warship design, construction, and integration.

The ship’s construction began at the Cochin Shipyard around five years ago, with the steel-cutting ceremony held in December 2020, and keel laying on August 30, 2022. The ship was launched in November 2023, completed its first sea sortie in May this year, and was handed over to the Navy on October 23.

INS Mahe is the first of the Mahe-class ASW-SWCs, a new generation of indigenous shallow-water combatants described as sleek, swift, and resolutely Indian.

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The earlier INS Mahe, a Soviet-built coastal minesweeper that entered service in 1983, was decommissioned in 2006 after 23 years of service.

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Officials said the legacy of the name Mahe in the Navy began with that vessel, commissioned at a time when inshore mine-countermeasure capability was crucial for securing port and harbour approaches.

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