The Indian Navy is set to commission its first indigenously built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), Mahe, on November 24, 2025, at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai. Built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) in Kochi, the Mahe is the first of eight vessels in its class, marking a significant milestone in India's indigenous shipbuilding capabilities and its "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" (self-reliant India) initiative in naval defense. The ship was delivered to the Indian Navy on October 23, 2025.
The Mahe-class ASW-SWC are designed to replace the Indian Navy's aging Abhay-class corvettes, which were commissioned between 1989 and 1991. These new vessels are specifically designed for anti-submarine warfare in coastal and littoral waters, where larger warships face maneuverability constraints. Their primary roles include subsurface surveillance, search and attack missions, and coordinated anti-submarine operations in conjunction with naval aircraft. The vessels are also capable of secondary roles such as defense against aircraft, minelaying, and search and rescue operations.
With over 80% indigenous content, the Mahe-class showcases India's growing expertise in warship design, construction, and integration. The 78-meter-long vessel has a displacement of 896 to 1,100 tons and is the largest Indian naval warship to utilize a diesel engine with waterjet propulsion, enabling high maneuverability and shallow-water performance. The ship's crest features the 'Urumi', a flexible sword from the Indian martial art Kalaripayattu, symbolizing agility, precision, and lethal grace.
The vessel is equipped with advanced systems, including radar, sonar, and electronic warfare technology. Its armament includes lightweight torpedoes, multi-functional anti-submarine rockets, and mine-laying capabilities, making it a formidable asset for coastal defense. The combat suite includes an ASW Combat Suite, the DRDO Abhay Hull-Mounted Sonar (HMS), and a Low-Frequency Variable Depth Sonar (LFVDS). It also features a Fire Control System (FCS), Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS), Automatic Power Management System (APMS), and Battle Damage Control System (BDCS). The ship is armed with one RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launcher, two triple lightweight torpedo launchers, and anti-submarine mines. For surface engagement, it has one 30 mm Naval Surface Gun and two 12.7 mm M2 Stabilized Remote Controlled Guns.
The construction of the Mahe-class ASW-SWC was undertaken as part of contracts signed in April 2019 between the Ministry of Defence and CSL and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) for eight vessels each. The steel cutting for Mahe commenced in December 2020, and the keel-laying ceremony was held on August 30, 2022. The first three ships of the class, Mahe, Malwan, and Mangrol, were launched simultaneously on November 30, 2023.
The commissioning of Mahe marks the beginning of a new era in indigenous shallow-water combatants, enhancing the Indian Navy's littoral surveillance and anti-submarine capabilities. The ship will be part of a multi-layered littoral defense system in conjunction with P-8I maritime patrol aircraft, Kamorta-class corvettes, and Next Generation Missile Vessels. All sixteen ASW-SWC units are projected to be operational by 2028, bolstering India's coastal defense capabilities across both its eastern and western seaboards.
