A private company from Kochi, Smart Engineering & Design Solutions (India) Pvt Ltd (SEDS), has become the first non-government entity in India to design a naval warship, the newly commissioned INS Mahe.
INS Mahe, built by Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL), is the lead ship of an eight-vessel class of Anti-Submarine Warfare shallow-water corvettes.
SEDS, based in Kakkanad, managed the complex naval architecture, packing advanced sensors, weapons systems and combat-ready design into a compact, efficient hull. According to company officials, the shift signals a broader opening of India’s defence ship-design sector to private-sector participation under the “Make in India / Aatmanirbhar Bharat” vision.
Beyond INS Mahe, SEDS is also working on designs for large fleet-support vessels and coast-guard patrol boats, indicating that private firms may increasingly contribute to India’s naval build-up.
India’s warship-building ecosystem may be entering a new era, where innovation, agility, and private-sector dynamism complement public-sector experience to strengthen maritime security and self-reliance.
