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New Delhi, Nov 24 (IANS) The Indian Navy will commission Mahe, the first anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft, at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai on Monday.
Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi will preside over the ceremony organized by Vice-Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, the officer said in a statement.
The commissioning of Mahe will mark the arrival of a new generation of indigenous shallow water combatants – sleek, fast and tenacious Indians.
With over 80 per cent indigenous content, the Mahe-class warships reflect India’s growing mastery in design, construction and integration, the statement said.
Mahe will serve as a ‘silent hunter’ on the western seaboard – operating with self-reliance and dedicated to protecting India’s maritime borders.
Built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi, Mahe represents the state-of-the-art of India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative in naval ship design and construction.
Compact yet powerful, the ship embodies agility, accuracy and stamina – qualities vital to dominating littoral terrain.
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.
Named after the historic coastal town of Mahe on the Malabar Coast, the ship’s spire bears the ‘Urumi’, the flexible sword of Kalaripayattu, symbolizing agility, precision and lethal grace.
Last week, the Indian Navy unveiled the Mahe crest, which draws inspiration from the cultural and martial heritage of the region, depicting the ‘Urumi’ – the flexible sword associated with Kalaripayattu and a symbol of Kerala’s martial heritage, rising from the sea, the statement said.
Meanwhile, the Indian Navy has started preparations for Navy Day 2025 on December 3.
The day will be celebrated with a spectacular operational display at the Shangumugham beach, Thiruvananthapuram on 3 December, presenting a vivid display of accuracy, professionalism and the growing sea power of the force.
The celebration, originally scheduled for December 4, has been moved forward by a day.
The event is a part of the Navy’s initiative to organize Navy Day celebrations away from major naval bases.
In previous years, operational demonstrations were conducted at Puri (Odisha) and Sindhudurg (Maharashtra).
–IANS
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