Project Overview
- Milestone: The first of eight scheduled Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW-SWC), christened INS Mahe, was recently delivered to the Indian Navy.
- Development: Indigenously designed and constructed by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL).
Operational Mandate
- Primary Role: Tailored for coastal defense and anti-submarine operations in littoral (shallow) waters.
- Multi-mission Capability: Designed to undertake Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO), underwater surveillance, complex mine-laying, and Search and Rescue (SAR) missions.
Technical Specifications & Design
- Indigenous Content: Features high self-reliance with over 90% indigenous components.
- Propulsion System: The 78-meter vessel utilizes a diesel engine-waterjet propulsion system. It is the largest Indian naval warship to employ this technology.
- Stealth & Agility: The propulsion system offers a reduced acoustic signature (critical for avoiding submarine detection) and superior maneuverability in shallow waters where larger destroyers or frigates face navigational constraints.
Armament Suite
- Rocket Launcher: Equipped with the RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launcher.
- Torpedoes: Features twin lightweight torpedo-tube launchers for neutralizing underwater threats.
