7th ASW SWC Keel laying At CSL, Kochi, first ship to be delivered by this year
Contract for building eight ASW SWC ships was awarded to Cochin Shipyard Limited by the Ministry of Defence on 30 Apr 19 also valued at INR 6311 crores.
The ships known as the ‘Mahe’ class, are being equipped with indigenously developed, state-of-the-art underwater sensors.
These ships will undertake anti-submarine operations in coastal waters as well as carry out Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO) and Mine Laying Operations.Earlier MoD and GRSE had also signed a contract valued at ₹6,311 crore for first batch of eight anti-submarine vessels, to be delivered between 2022 and 2026.
The contract stipulated that the first vessel had to be delivered within 42 months of the date of signing, with the remaining seven vessels delivered at regular intervals.
On 30 April 2019, the MoD and CSL signed a similar contract, valued at ₹6,311 crore for the construction of the remaining eight vessels – within a deadline of 84 months.
Under this contract, the first ship was also expected to be delivered within a span of 42 months, with subsequent deliveries of two ships per year.
On 01 December 2020, CSL initiated the project’s construction, with the steel-cutting of the first ASW-SWC Mahe at Kochi. By 30 Nov 23 Mahe, Malwan and Mangrol were launched. By 09 Sep 2024 two more Malpe and Mulki too were launched.
Keel Laying of Magdala was on 16 Dec 24 and now vessel, Keel Laying of the seventh ship (BY 529, Machilipatnam) of the Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) project has been undertaken on 29 Jan 25 in the presence of RAdm Upal Kundu, Chief of Staff, Southern Naval Command. Senior officials of the Indian Navy and CSL were also present for the ceremony.
With almost all major and auxiliary equipment/ systems sourced from indigenous manufacturers, these ships exemplify the government’s Initiative of “Aatmanirbhar Bharat”.
This milestone, in quick succession of the Keel Laying and launching of the ships demonstrates the steadfast efforts of the Indian Shipyards to meet Indian Navy’s growing operational requirements.
The first ship of the project is planned to be delivered in early 2025. Besides enhancing Indian Navy’s Anti-Submarine Warfare capabilities, the high indigenous content on these ASW SWC ships is also generating large scale employment and capability enhancement of Indian Manufacturing Units.
Even GRSE is in proper schedule. By end 2026, early 2027 Indian Navy should have all 16 of these ships in service.
