The Indian Navy has officially commissioned INS Mahe, a new anti-submarine warfare ship, at a ceremony in Mumbai. The event was attended by Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, highlighting cooperation between India’s armed forces.
INS Mahe is the first ship of the Mahe-class shallow water vessels, designed and built in India at Cochin Shipyard Limited. Around 80% of its parts are indigenous, reflecting India’s push for self-reliance in defense manufacturing. The ship is 78 metres long, weighs about 1,100 tonnes, and is built for coastal and shallow water operations, where larger ships cannot operate effectively.
The ship’s name, Mahe, comes from a coastal town in Kerala, connecting it to India’s maritime heritage. Its crest shows an “Urumi”, a flexible sword from the Kalarippayattu martial art, symbolizing agility and precision. The ship’s mascot is a cheetah, representing speed, and its motto is “Silent Hunters”, reflecting its quiet operations under the sea.
The ship uses a diesel-engine water-jet propulsion system, giving it speed, agility, and stealth. Its main mission is anti-submarine warfare, but it can also carry out underwater surveillance, mine-laying, coastal patrols, and low-intensity operations. INS Mahe is equipped with lightweight torpedoes and anti-submarine rockets to engage enemy submarines. It also has modern sonar and radar systems, along with noise-reducing technology for stealthy operations.
Naval officials said the commissioning of INS Mahe strengthens India’s coastal defense and demonstrates the country’s ability to build modern warships locally. INS Mahe is the first of eight Mahe-class ships planned by Cochin Shipyard, which will gradually replace older vessels in the Navy’s shallow-water anti-submarine fleet.
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