NewsGate Press Network

The Keel Laying of the Indian Navy’s sixth ship (BY 528, Magdala) of the Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) was held on Tuesday the 17th of December 2024.

According to a release issued by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) the project was undertaken in presence of RAdm Satish Shenai, CSO (Training), Southern Naval Command.

Its has been a unique milestone achieved within months of the launching of the fourth and fifth ASW SWC ships at CSL in Sep 24, demonstrates the ‘Make in India’ capability of the Indian Shipyards.

Contract for building eight ASW SWC ships was awarded to Cochin Shipyard Limited by the Ministry of Defence on 30 Apr 19.

The ships known as the ‘Mahe’ class, will be equipped with indigenously developed, state-of-the-art underwater sensors, and are envisaged to undertake anti-submarine operations in coastal waters as well as Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO) and Mine Laying Operations.

The first ship of the project is planned to be delivered in early 2025, the MoD release added.

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.