Mumbai, November 26: India on Monday commissioned INS Mahe, its first Mahe-class anti-submarine warfare shallow-water craft, marking a major step in the Navy’s drive toward self-reliance with more than 80% indigenous components built into the vessel.
The ship was commissioned at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai by Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, the first time an Army chief has presided over the induction of a naval warship. The vessel, designed and constructed by Cochin Shipyard Limited, completed over two years of trials before entering service, officials said.
INS Mahe is the lead ship in a series of eight vessels and will form the first tier of India’s coastal defence grid. The Navy said the platform integrates with larger surface combatants, submarines and aviation assets to provide continuous surveillance of India’s maritime zones.
General Dwivedi described the warship’s motto, “Silent Hunters,” as reflective of its stealth and readiness. He said the commissioning underscored the importance of synergy between the Army, Navy and Air Force in an era of multi-domain warfare.
“In the age of multi-domain operations, our ability to act in concert from the depths of the ocean to the highest frontier will determine India’s security influence,” he said, adding that the armed forces were undergoing major transformation with jointness at the core of operational planning.
The Army chief said the commissioning reaffirmed India’s growing capability to design and build complex combat platforms indigenously. “This will significantly augment the Navy’s ability to ensure near-sea dominance and secure our coastal interests,” he said.
According to a government statement, INS Mahe is equipped with advanced sensors, weapons and communication systems designed to detect, track and neutralise sub-surface threats in shallow waters. The compact combat suite integrates multiple systems into a single network, allowing the ship to undertake prolonged operations close to the coastline.
Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, hosted the ceremony, which was attended by senior naval officials and representatives of Cochin Shipyard. The commissioning of INS Mahe, the Navy said, reinforces its transition into a “Builders’ Navy” capable of designing, constructing and sustaining its own combat platforms.
