Cochin Shipyard has launched the Indian Navy’s seventh Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) in Machilipatnam.
The milestone forms part of the country’s 2014 initiative to deploy 16 modern surface combatants in response to emerging submarine threats across littoral zones.
The force named the vessel INS Machilipatnam (P86) after its homeport in Andhra Pradesh, honoring the city’s historic role in trade along India’s southeastern seaboard.
Similar to its sister hulls, the platform carries dedicated capabilities for underwater surveillance, low-intensity conflicts, and mine countermeasures, amplifying the country’s near-shore security and overall maritime domain awareness.
“The launch of Machilipatnam marks another milestone in the successful execution of the ASW SWC project and reaffirms India’s commitment to Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing,” the Indian Ministry of Defence said.
“With indigenous content exceeding 80 percent, the project showcases the growing capability of the Indian shipbuilding industry and will substantially enhance the Indian Navy’s operational readiness for safeguarding the nation’s maritime interests in the Indian Ocean Region.
The event follows New Delhi’s admittance of the second Mahe vessel, the INS Malvan (P81), in Kanwar last July, making it the latest system in the series to join the service.
The Mahe-Class ASW-SWC
India’s Mahe-class platform spans 78 meters (256 feet) in length, has a beam of 11 meters (36 feet), and can accommodate up to 57 sailors.
It is equipped with an RBU-6000 213mm rocket launcher, anti-submarine mines, lightweight torpedoes, a 30mm naval surface gun, and 12.7mm stabilized remote control support machine guns.
The vessel is powered by three diesel waterjet engines that support a maximum speed of 25 knots (46 kilometers/29 miles per hour) and a range of 1,800 nautical miles (3,334 kilometers/2,071 miles).
