DELIVERY OF ‘MAHE’ - FIRST ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE SHALLOW WATER CRAFT BUILT BY CSL, KOCHI

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Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi, delivered ‘Mahe’, the first of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW SWC), to the Indian Navy on 23 October 2025.

Analysis

1. Background
   • ‘Mahe’ is named after the historic port town in the Union Territory of Puducherry, reflecting India’s maritime heritage.
   • It is the first of eight ASW SWCs being indigenously designed and built by CSL under the Government of India’s naval modernisation programme.
2. Capabilities
   • Designed for underwater surveillance, Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO), and Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) in coastal waters.
   • Equipped with torpedoes, Multifunctional Anti-Submarine Rockets, advanced radars, and sonars.
   • Features Mine Laying capability to secure maritime approaches.
   • Dimensions: approximately 78 metres in length, displacement ~1,100 tons.
3. Significance for Indian Navy
   • Enhances ASW capability in littoral regions, strengthening maritime security along the coast.
   • Marks a major step in indigenisation, with over 80% of the content sourced domestically.
   • Supports India’s vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ in defence production.
   • Provides a platform for future naval operations in shallow water and near-coast environments.
4. Strategic Impact
   • Strengthens coastal defence and surveillance in sensitive maritime zones.
   • Complements other naval platforms to provide a comprehensive maritime security network.
   • Demonstrates CSL’s capacity to deliver advanced warships, boosting confidence in domestic shipbuilding.

Static / Background Information

Updated - 24 OCT 2025 5:49 PM | PIB