Chief of the Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, during the commissioning ceremony of INS Mahe, the first anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft (ASW-SWC) of the Mahe-class, at the Naval Dockyard, in Mumbai, on Monday
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ANI
Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi on Monday underscored the growing emphasis on jointness, integration and multi-domain readiness across the Indian armed forces, as he commissioned INS Mahe, the first of the Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), into the Indian Navy at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai.
Calling the moment “a reflection of united national strength,” General Dwivedi said the Indian Army had launched a series of initiatives under a broader transformation plan where jointness and integration form key pillars. “Modern conflicts will be multi-domain, hybrid and require united national strength,” he said, stressing that synergy among the services would shape India’s future security environment.
INS Mahe, built by Cochin Shipyard Limited, represents India’s expanding Aatmanirbhar Bharat capabilities in naval design and construction. Compact yet powerful, the vessel has been designed for submarine hunting, coastal patrols and securing vital maritime approaches.
Smart diplomacy
Speaking at the ceremony, marking the first time an Army Chief has commissioned a naval ship, General Dwivedi highlighted the Navy’s growing strategic role. “The Indian Navy plays an important role in our neighbourhood as well as the global environment in far-off lands, where the Army can play both a supplementary and complementary role in soft and hard diplomacy, which I refer to as smart diplomacy,” he said.
The Army Chief noted that the armed forces have consistently operated “shoulder to shoulder” during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions and amphibious operations. He added that the Navy’s planned expansion would transform it into a formidable, multi-dimensional force capable of dominating the seas.
General Dwivedi lauded the professionalism behind the timely delivery of INS Mahe, describing it as “an example of excellence” by Cochin Shipyard Ltd. Addressing the ship’s crew, he said: “From this day forward, the mantle of responsibility rests upon your shoulders. A ship is only as strong as the personnel who sail her. The nation will sleep peacefully because you remain awake.”
Unified strength
Emphasising the indivisibility of national security, Dwivedi said: “The sea, land and skies form a single continuum of national security, and together the Army, Navy and Air Force form the trinity of India’s strategic strength. In this age of multi-domain operations, our ability to act in concert—from the depths of the ocean to the highest frontier—will determine the security of our republic.”
He cited Operation Sindoor, India’s military action targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack in April, as an apt example of inter-service coordination. “The Indian armed forces are operational in every domain—from Ladakh to the Indian Ocean, from information warfare to joint logistics,” he added.
Following the commissioning, General Dwivedi awarded COAS Commendations to Navy personnel who played a key role in preparing INS Mahe for service—an uncommon gesture that officials said may become more frequent as tri-service synergy deepens.
The ceremony was hosted by Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command. General Dwivedi later took a guided tour of the newly commissioned vessel, which now carries, he said, “the collective faith of a nation that stands united behind her.”
Published on November 24, 2025