Indian Navy Unveils Crest Of Its First Mahe-Class ASW Vessel Ahead Of Commissioning

The Indian Navy has unveiled the crest of Mahe, the first vessel in the indigenously designed Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), ahead of its commissioning at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai on 24 November 2025.

The development is a major step in the ship’s transition from design to operational service and shows India’s expanding capabilities in indigenous naval construction.

Built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) in Kochi, Mahe forms part of India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative in defence shipbuilding. The Navy has stated that the class incorporates over 80 per cent indigenous content, reflecting progress in local design, construction and system integration.

The ship is named after the coastal town of Mahe on the Malabar Coast. It carries a crest rooted in the cultural and martial heritage of the region. The emblem features an ‘Urumi’, the flexible sword associated with Kalarippayattu.

According to officials, the Urumi was chosen to symbolise agility, precision and controlled striking power, traits aligned with the ship’s role in shallow-water anti-submarine operations. The crest also depicts waves to represent India’s maritime expanse and the Navy’s continuous readiness to secure it.

The ship’s motto, “Silent Hunters,” reflects principles of stealth, alertness and determination, qualities regarded as central to anti-submarine warfare.

Compact in size but designed for high effectiveness in the littorals, Mahe is equipped to conduct submarine-hunting missions, coastal patrols and protection of vital maritime approaches. Its combination of manoeuvrability, stealth and endurance positions it as a key asset for operations close to shore.

Reference: PIB

Source: Maritime Shipping News