ASW-SWC Mahe

News: The Indian Navy has unveiled the crest of ASW-SWC Mahe before its commissioning in Mumbai.

About ASW-SWC Mahe

• INS Mahe is the first ship of the new Mahe-class ASW-SWC series, intended for the Indian Navy.
• The ship is named after the coastal town of Mahe on India’s western coast, tying the unit to Indian maritime heritage.
• Built by: Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) at Kochi.
• It embodies India’s push for “Aatmanirbharta / self-reliance” in naval shipbuilding.
• Ship’s motto: “Silent Hunters”—reflecting stealth, vigilance and the ASW ethos of submarine detection and neutralisation.
• Features of the ship: 
  • The ship is optimised for shallow waters, swift manoeuvrability, and stealth—key in littoral ASW tasks.
  • Its missions include submarine-hunting in near-coastal waters, coastal patrol, maritime surveillance and protection of offshore/approach zones. 
  • The design emphasises low acoustic signature, reduced radar cross-section (RCS) and other stealth features (typical of ASW-SWC designs). 
  • The ship’s crest features a traditional flexible sword—an “Urumi”, from the martial art of Kalarippayattu (Kerala).
  • The Urumi rises from stylised waves, symbolising agility, precision and lethal grace in the maritime domain.
• Strategic Significance: INS Mahe marks a significant milestone in India’s indigenous warship-building capability for anti-submarine warfare in shallow/coastal waters.