Why in news?
On 23 October 2025 the Indian Navy received INS Mahe, the first of eight anti‑submarine warfare shallow water craft ordered from Cochin Shipyard Limited. The new vessel will patrol India’s littoral waters, detect hostile submarines and support coastal security operations.
Background
In 2019 the Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Cochin Shipyard to design and build a class of shallow‑draught anti‑submarine vessels. The ships are named after port towns; Mahe honours the historic port in the Union Territory of Puducherry. India’s Warship Design Bureau provided the design, and more than 80 percent of components are sourced domestically, reflecting the Aatmanirbhar Bharat self‑reliance initiative.
Key features
- Size and propulsion: INS Mahe measures about 78 metres in length and displaces roughly 1,100 tonnes. A diesel–water‑jet propulsion system gives the craft high manoeuvrability and a shallow draft, allowing it to operate close to shore where larger warships cannot.
- Sensors and weapons: The vessel carries hull‑mounted sonar and a variable‑depth sonar to detect submerged targets. It is armed with lightweight torpedoes, an RBU‑6000 rocket launcher, mine‑laying racks and a remotely operated weapon station for surface defence.
- Mission flexibility: Besides hunting submarines, Mahe can perform search‑and‑rescue missions, casualty evacuation, underwater surveillance and low‑intensity maritime operations.
- Indigenous content: Over four‑fifths of the equipment and materials are produced in India, promoting local shipbuilding and encouraging technology transfer to domestic industry.
Significance
- By expanding the Navy’s capability to detect and neutralise submarines in shallow waters, the Mahe class will help safeguard coastal shipping lanes, offshore infrastructure and naval bases.
- Building advanced warships domestically boosts India’s defence manufacturing sector and reduces dependence on imported technology.
- Using a series of eight vessels allows for continuous patrolling and quick rotation during maintenance or refit periods, ensuring persistent surveillance of vulnerable sea lanes.
Conclusion
INS Mahe marks a step forward in India’s efforts to modernise its coastal defence fleet. As additional ships of the class enter service over the coming years, they will collectively enhance maritime security and demonstrate the country’s growing shipbuilding prowess.
Source: Press Information Bureau, Economic Times