INS Mahe
Context:
INS Mahe is the first of the Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft, which is abbreviated as ASW-SWC in naval terms.
It was commissioned into the Indian Navy at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai.
This symbolizes the synergy among the three services.
About INS Mahe
It is designed and built indigenously by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL).
It is the first of the eight ASW-SWC being built by Cochin Shipyard Limited. The full induction is expected to be completed by 2027.
The ship's motto is Silent Hunters, reflects its stealth, vigilance and unwavering resolve - qualities that define anti-submarine warfare ethos.
It is named after the historic port town of Mahe in the Union Territory of Puducherry.
Key Features and Capabilities:
The Mahe-class craft is designed for shallow waters, boosting coastal defence. It will help detect and neutralise enemy submarines.
The warship features over 80% indigenous components.
It is specially designed for anti-submarine operations in coastal and shallow waters.
It is also capable of underwater surveillance, mine-laying, and Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO).
The ship is approximately 78 metres long with a displacement of around 1,100 tons.
It is equipped with advanced indigenous weapons and sensors (including torpedoes, anti-submarine rockets, and radars to detect and neutralize sub-surface threats)
Strategic Significance
It will form the first line of coastal defence integrating with larger combatants and aircraft to maintain vigilance over India's maritime areas.
The induction augments the Navy's capability to ensure near-sea dominance and strengthen the coastal security grid across the littorals.