Indian Navy to commission first Mahe-class submarine-hunting craft on Nov 24

The Indian Navy will next week induct indigenously built anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft, which is expected to boost its combat capability.

The Navy on Sunday said the first Mahe class anti-submarine warfare ship will be commissioned at a ceremony in Mumbai on November 24.

Built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), the Mahe ship represents the state-of-the-art of India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative in naval ship design and construction, it said.

It said, “Small but powerful, the ship embodies agility, precision and endurance – qualities vital to dominating littoral areas.”

With a blend of firepower, stealth and mobility, the ship is designed to hunt submarines, conduct coastal patrolling and secure India’s vital maritime approaches, the Navy said.

Equipped with torpedoes and anti-submarine rockets, the first anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft (ASW SWC) of the Mahe class was delivered to the Navy on 23 October.

The Navy said the induction of Mahe would usher in a “new generation” of indigenous shallow water combat aircraft.

“With over 80 per cent indigenous content, the Mahe-class warships reflect India’s growing mastery in design, construction and integration,” the Navy said in a statement.

Named after the historic coastal town of Mahe on the Malabar Coast, the ship has an “urumi” on its spire – the flexible sword of Kalaripayattu, which symbolizes agility, accuracy and lethal grace, it said.