The Indian Navy has scored a significant milestone in maritime defense with the formal handover of INS Mahe, the first Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) designed and built in India by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), on October 23, 2025. This new warship greatly enhances India’s anti-submarine capabilities, especially along its vast coastline, and is a flagship achievement for the Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative.​

What is INS Mahe? An Overview

INS Mahe is a specialized Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft, equipped to detect, track, and neutralize enemy submarines operating in coastal and shallow waters. The vessel is named after the historic port town of Mahe in Puducherry, reflecting India’s rich maritime heritage and strategic geography.​

Key Technical Features

Length & Displacement: 78 meters long, with a displacement around 1,100 tonnes.​

Propulsion: The largest Indian Navy ship powered by a diesel engine–waterjet combination, designed for speed, agility, and enhanced maneuverability in shallow waters. Maximum speed of 25 knots with an endurance of over 1,800 nautical miles.​

Armament:

Lightweight torpedoes for precise anti-submarine attacks

Multi-role anti-submarine rockets

30mm naval surface gun

Remote-controlled guns with optronic systems

Advanced radar and sonar systems for underwater surveillance and precise targeting

Capacity for deploying naval mines​

Operations:

Anti-submarine patrol and warfare

Search and rescue (SAR) near coastlines

Mine-laying missions

Low-Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO)​

Crew: Accommodates nearly 57 personnel, including 7 officers.​

Indigenization: Over 90% of the vessel’s systems, equipment, and components are manufactured in India, setting a new benchmark for Indian defense shipbuilding and reinforcing the government’s push towards self-reliance.​

Construction and Delivery

Designed and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) in Kochi.

Built under stringent Det Norske Veritas (DNV) international ship classification standards, ensuring world-class safety and operational robustness.​

Handover took place on October 23, 2025, with key naval and shipyard officials in attendance.​

The ASW-SWC Project: Expanding Coastal Defense

India’s Ministry of Defence has commissioned a total of 16 ASW-SWC vessels—eight each by CSL (Mahe-class) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE, Arnala-class). INS Mahe is the lead vessel in the series; corresponding ships like INS Malvan, Mangrol, Malpe, and others are at various construction stages.​

These vessels will systematically replace the aging Abhay-class corvettes, significantly strengthening India’s ability to patrol, protect, and respond to undersea threats, particularly in high-risk regions like the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.​

Strategic Significance for the Indian Navy

Enhanced Maritime Security

Response to Regional Threats: With increasing submarine activity from countries like China and Pakistan in the Indian Ocean Region, these shallow water crafts drastically improve India’s detection and deterrence capabilities.​

Operational Flexibility: Their ability to operate in shallow coastal environments—often inaccessible to larger warships—makes them invaluable for day-to-day security, quick-reaction missions, and protection of vital national assets.​

Multi-Role Capabilities

Besides anti-submarine warfare, INS Mahe is equipped for:

Coastal surveillance and patrol

Search and rescue missions

Mine laying operations

Low-intensity security operations​

Aatmanirbhar Bharat Milestone

INS Mahe epitomizes the progress of Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defense:

Indigenous Content: More than 90% of the ship is built using Indian materials, technology, and expertise.​

Push to Exports: Successful completion of these vessels will potentially enhance India’s shipbuilding exports and global reputation for defense manufacturing excellence.​

Industrial Upscaling: This project augments the infrastructure, expertise, and competitiveness of Indian shipyards and related industries.

Key Facts for UPSC and Exams

INS Mahe – handed to Indian Navy on October 23, 2025​

First indigenous Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft from CSL​

Length: 78 meters; Displacement: ~1,100 tonnes; diesel-waterjet propulsion​

90%+ indigenous materials; DNV construction standards​

Weapons: Torpedoes, ASW rockets, 30mm surface gun, advanced sonar/radar​

Fleet role: Coastal/submarine threat response, search and rescue, mine-laying​

Part of fleet-wide modernization supporting Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India​

Why this matters for your exam preparation

The induction of INS Mahe is a HIGH-PRIORITY topic for all competitive exams, especially UPSC, for several reasons:

Direct Current Affairs Link: Prominent recent development in Indian defense, likely to feature in Prelims and GS-III for Mains (security, technology, Aatmanirbhar Bharat, defense indigenization).​

Strategic Balance & Security: Demonstrates India’s efforts to counter growing underwater threats in the Indian Ocean, reflecting on India-China and India-Pakistan maritime rivalry.​

Science, Technology, and Industry: Highlights advances in indigenous shipbuilding, integrated systems, and PPP models in shipyard operations, key for both content-rich answers and interviews.​

Data and Statistics: Precise specs about length, propulsion, armament, indigenous content, and operational roles are directly usable for MCQs, answer writing, and essay examples.​

For more in-depth coverage on Indian Navy modernization, self-reliant defense initiatives, and technological advancements, visit Atharva Examwise’s dedicated Internal Security, Science & Technology, and Current Affairs sections.