On Monday, the Indian Navy commissioned INS Mahe, the first ship of the Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai. The ceremony was presided over by Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi, who formally commissioned the vessel into service.
Speaking at the event, General Dwivedi highlighted the significance of the commissioning in the Navy’s journey towards self-reliance. “The commissioning of INS Mahe reaffirms the Navy's steadfast transformation into a Builders' Navy, one that designs, constructs, and sustains its own combat platforms. Today, over 75 per cent platforms of the Navy's capital acquisition are sourced indigenously. From warships and submarines to high sonar and weapon systems, Indian shipyards, public and private, stand as a living proof of our nation’s industrial and technological dominance,” he said.
The COAS praised Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), the builder of the ship, stating, “The successful delivery of INS Mahe by Cochin Shipyard Limited stands as an example of excellence and professionalism.”
Addressing the ship’s Commanding Officer and commissioning crew directly, General Dwivedi said, “From this day forward, the mantle of responsibility rests upon the shoulders of the commanding officer and commissioning crew of INS Mahe. You are the custodians of her spirit, her discipline and her fighting edge. Remember, her ship is only as strong as the man who sails her. Her spirit will depend on your courage. Her reputation will depend on your character. The nation will sleep peacefully because you will remain awake, and India's tricolour will fly high across the oceans because you will defend it.”
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Emphasising inter-service synergy, he added, “The sea, land and the skies form a single continuum of national security, and together the Army, Navy, and Air Force form the trinity of India’s strategic strength. In this age of multi-domain operations, our ability to act in concert from the depths of the ocean to the highest frontier will determine the security of our republic. We are an operational eye in every domain from Ladakh to the Indian Ocean, from information warfare to joint logistics. Operation Sindoor was an apt example of that synergy.”
After the commissioning, General Upendra Dwivedi took a guided tour of INS Mahe.
The ceremony was hosted by Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, according to an official release from the Ministry of Defence.
Built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), INS Mahe represents the cutting edge of India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative in naval ship design and construction. Compact yet powerful, the ship embodies agility, precision and endurance – qualities vital for dominating the littorals. With her blend of firepower, stealth and mobility, the ship is designed to hunt submarines, conduct coastal patrols, and secure India’s vital maritime approaches.
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