INS Mahe commissioned in Indian Navy by India Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi.
Indian Navy’s INS Mahe Commissioned: Mumbai, 24 November 2025 — The Indian Navy has taken a significant step in enhancing its anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities with the commissioning of INS Mahe, the first of the indigenously designed and built Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC). The ceremony took place at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai on 24 November 2025, marking a milestone in India’s maritime defence capabilities.
The commissioning event was presided over by General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff, with Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, hosting the ceremony. The event was attended by senior naval officers, representatives from Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL), Kochi, and distinguished guests, underscoring the collaborative effort involved in this major achievement.
A Symbol of Elegance and Strength
INS Mahe takes its name from the historic town of Mahe, located along the Malabar Coast. Known for its rich maritime heritage and tranquil estuary, Mahe mirrors the ship’s combination of strength and elegance. The ship’s crest features the Urumi, a flexible sword used in Kalaripayattu, symbolising agility, precision, and lethal grace, while her mascot, the Cheetah, embodies speed and focus. The motto “Silent Hunters” reflects the ship’s stealth, vigilance, and unyielding readiness, a nod to her primary role in countering underwater threats.
Indigenisation at its Core: A Shining Example of Aatmanirbhar Bharat
INS Mahe is the lead ship of the Mahe-class series, with eight vessels of this class planned in total. Designed and built by Cochin Shipyard Ltd, Kochi, the ship embodies India’s growing self-reliance in defence technology. With over 80% indigenous content, INS Mahe is a testament to India’s push for Aatmanirbhar Bharat, the vision of a self-reliant nation. The vessel’s design and systems integration involved collaborations with BEL, L&T Defence, Mahindra Defence Systems, NPOL, and more than 20 MSMEs across the country. This collaboration highlights India’s expanding naval design ecosystem and growing technological prowess in defence.
The commissioning of INS Mahe reaffirms the Indian Navy’s continued commitment to indigenisation, ensuring that the Navy has access to cutting-edge, homegrown solutions that will enhance operational capabilities for years to come.
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INS Mahe commissioned in Indian Navy.
Strengthening ASW Capabilities in Shallow Waters
The commissioning of INS Mahe adds a powerful new asset to the Indian Navy’s arsenal, especially in the critical domain of anti-submarine warfare. The ship is specially designed to operate in coastal and shallow waters, an area where traditional large combatants may struggle. Fitted with advanced weapons, sensors, and communication systems, INS Mahe can detect, track, and neutralise sub-surface threats with unmatched precision.
Her combat suite integrates multiple systems into a compact yet highly effective network, enabling the ship to conduct prolonged operations in challenging shallow-water environments. This makes INS Mahe a vital asset in safeguarding India’s coastal security and enhancing its ability to dominate maritime operations in the region.
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A Landmark for India’s Maritime Defence
Addressing the commissioning ceremony, General Upendra Dwivedi highlighted the strategic significance of INS Mahe’s induction. He noted that the ship’s commissioning marks not only the introduction of a new maritime platform but also demonstrates India’s growing capacity to design, construct, and deploy complex naval combatants using indigenous technologies.
“This is a defining moment in India’s maritime defence capabilities,” General Dwivedi said. “The induction of INS Mahe significantly enhances the Indian Navy’s ability to ensure near-sea dominance, strengthen the coastal security grid, and safeguard India’s maritime interests across the littorals.”
General Dwivedi further emphasised the importance of joint synergy between the Armed Forces. Citing Operation Sindoor as an example of successful collaboration between the Army and Navy, he underscored the importance of multi-domain operations and the need for united national efforts in modern conflicts, which will involve land, sea, and air assets working seamlessly together.
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Enhancing Coastal Defence and Vigilance
The Mahe-class vessels are set to form the first line of defence in India’s coastal waters. The ships will integrate seamlessly with larger surface combatants, submarines, and aviation assets, maintaining constant vigilance over India’s maritime territories. As the lead ship, INS Mahe will set the operational standards for the rest of the class, providing the Indian Navy with a highly capable force to address evolving underwater threats in the littoral regions.
In keeping with the Indian Navy’s mission to remain Combat Ready, Cohesive, and Aatmanirbhar, the ship is poised to play a pivotal role in securing India’s maritime borders and contributing to the country’s broader defence objectives.
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A New Chapter for India’s Naval Power
The commissioning of INS Mahe signifies a major step forward in India’s quest to build a modern, indigenous maritime force. As part of a series of Mahe-class ASW-SWCs, INS Mahe will play a critical role in ensuring that India’s coastal waters remain secure, while also enhancing the Navy’s overall strategic capabilities. With a renewed focus on self-reliance and technological innovation, the Indian Navy is preparing for the challenges of the future, ensuring that India’s maritime interests remain protected for generations to come.
The induction of INS Mahe is a shining example of India’s determination to enhance its maritime power, safeguard its coastal security, and project its influence across the Indo-Pacific region.
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