INS Mahe, a Mahe-class anti-submarine warfare shallow-vessel. File | Photo credit: The Hindu
The Indian Navy on Monday commissioned INS Mahe, the first of the indigenously designed and built Mahe Class (ASW-SWC) Anti-Submarine Warfare Vessels during a ceremony held at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai.
Hosted by Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Commander, Western Naval Command, the event was presided over by General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of Army Staff, in the presence of senior naval officers and representatives of Cochin Shipyard Limited.
“The ship takes its name from the historic coastal town of Mahe on the Malabar Coast. The ship’s crest features ‘Urumi’, the flexible sword of Kalaripayattu, rising from stylized blue waves – a symbol of agility, precision and deadly grace. Her mascot, the Cheetah, embodies speed and focus, while the ship’s sterilth, the hunter’s motto, ‘S’ and unyielding readiness,” the statement said.
Designed and built by CSL, INS Mahe is the flagship of eight vessels in her class. The commissioning of the vessel adds significant strength to the Indian Navy’s ASW capabilities, particularly in countering littoral threats. Equipped with advanced weapons, sensors and communication systems that enable it to accurately detect, track and neutralize subsurface threats, the ship can withstand prolonged operations in shallow waters and is equipped with technologically advanced machinery and control systems,” the report said.
Speaking at the ceremony, General Dwivedi said the commissioning of INS Mahe not only marked the creation of a powerful new naval platform but also reflected India’s growing capability to design, engineer and build complex warfighters using indigenous technologies. The induction of the ship would significantly enhance the Indian Navy’s capacity to ensure maritime supremacy, strengthen the coastal security network and protect India’s maritime interests, he said.
Published – 24 Nov 2025 21:23 IST
