Indian Navy Launches 'Machilipatnam', Seventh Mahe-Class Anti-Submarine Warfare Craft

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The Indian Navy launched 'Machilipatnam', the seventh of eight Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC), on 29 July 2026.
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The vessel was built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) and has over 80% indigenous content.
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It is designed for underwater surveillance, anti-submarine warfare and mine-laying operations in coastal waters.
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The ship is named after the historic port city of Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

●Vessel: 'Machilipatnam', a Mahe-class ASW Shallow Water Craft
●Position in class: 7th of 8 such craft
●Builder: Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL)
●Launched on: 29 July 2026
●Indigenous content: over 80%
●Named after: Machilipatnam port city, Andhra Pradesh

The Mahe-class ASW Shallow Water Craft are being built for the Indian Navy to operate close to the coast, in shallow waters where larger warships cannot easily hunt submarines. They replace the older Abhay-class corvettes. Named after coastal towns, the class is being constructed at Cochin Shipyard Limited, and the high indigenous content reflects the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' push in defence manufacturing.

Shallow-water anti-submarine craft plug a specific gap in coastal defence — detecting and countering submarines and underwater threats near harbours and the littoral zone. Building them domestically strengthens both maritime security and India's shipbuilding industry.

Exam Relevance

defence

Defence Awareness > Naval Assets

ssc

General Awareness > Defence

Expected Questions

★Which shipyard is building the Mahe-class ASW Shallow Water Craft?
★What is the primary role of an ASW Shallow Water Craft?

Key Terms

ASW

Anti-Submarine Warfare — detecting and neutralising enemy submarines

priority_highMust Remember

•'Machilipatnam' = 7th Mahe-class ASW SWC, built by Cochin Shipyard Limited; over 80% indigenous

tips_and_updatesExam Tips

•ASW SWC operate in shallow/coastal waters and replace the older Abhay-class corvettes.

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Indian Navy Launches 'Machilipatnam', Seventh Mahe-Class Anti-Submarine Warfare Craft

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Quick Facts

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Exam Relevance

Expected Questions

Key Terms

priority_highMust Remember

tips_and_updatesExam Tips

Practice Quiz

'Machilipatnam', launched by the Indian Navy in July 2026, belongs to which class of vessels?

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