Keel Laid for Final ASW Shallow Water Craft at Cochin Shipyard
Kochi, May 31, 2025 — The keel of the eighth and final Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC), designated BY 530, was laid today at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), marking a major milestone in one of India’s key naval shipbuilding projects. The ceremony was held in the presence of Vice Admiral Rajaram Swaminathan, Chief of Materiel (CWP&A), alongside senior officials from the Indian Navy and CSL.
The keel laying of this final vessel underscores the steady progress in the ASW SWC program, with all eight ships currently at advanced stages of construction. Featuring over 80% indigenous content, these vessels are a testament to the Government of India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives, showcasing the country’s growing self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
Awarded to CSL by the Ministry of Defence on April 30, 2019, the contract involves building eight vessels of the ‘Mahe’ class. These ships are designed for high-performance anti-submarine operations in shallow waters, and are equipped with state-of-the-art underwater sensors developed indigenously. In addition to their primary ASW role, the ships are capable of performing Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO) and mine-laying tasks.
The ASW SWC ships are scheduled for phased delivery between August 2025 and June 2028. Once inducted, they are expected to significantly bolster the Indian Navy’s coastal defence and undersea warfare capabilities.
This latest milestone not only signals progress in naval preparedness but also reflects the strategic emphasis on domestic capability development and technological advancement in maritime defence.
