The Indian Navy on Monday commissioned INS Mahe, the first vessel of the Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai. The event was hosted by Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, and was presided over by Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi.
This commissioning was notable as it marked the first time an Army Chief has attended the induction of a naval warship, underscoring the growing synergy between India’s three armed services. General Dwivedi said the strength of the armed forces lies in their ability to work together, adding that the sea, land, and air form a single continuum of national security. He emphasised that modern conflicts are multi-domain and hybrid in nature, requiring coordinated action across all branches of the military. He also noted that the Army is undergoing a decade of transformation, with jointness and integration forming a key pillar of its reforms.
Vice Admiral Swaminathan thanked the Army Chief for his presence and said it reflected a strong commitment to greater inter-service cooperation.
INS Mahe represents the arrival of a new generation of indigenous shallow-water anti-submarine combatants. With over 80 per cent indigenous content, the Mahe-class highlights India’s growing expertise in warship design, construction, and integration. The vessel will operate as a “Silent Hunter” on the Western Seaboard, strengthening India’s capability to detect and counter underwater threats in coastal waters.
The commissioning comes at a time when Pakistan is preparing to induct its Hangor-class submarines, a key element of the China-Pakistan naval partnership, by 2026. The expansion of Pakistan’s submarine fleet is expected to enhance its underwater warfare capabilities, making India’s new ASW vessels particularly important for maintaining maritime superiority.
The event also comes amid ongoing discussions on India’s proposed theatre command structure, aimed at integrating the Army, Navy, and Air Force under unified commanders for greater operational efficiency. The joint presence of Army and Navy leadership at the INS Mahe commissioning is being viewed as a reflection of this shift toward deeper integration.
