The Scorpene INS Vagir submarine is part of six Kalvari-class submarines being built in India.
Mumbai:
The fifth Scorpene submarine of the Indian Navy, Vagir, which has “superior stealth characteristics” such as advanced sound absorption technique, launched today at Mazagon Pier in South Mumbai.
Vijaya Naik, wife of Minister of State for Defense Shripad Naik, launched the submarine via videoconference. The minister was the main guest of the event and attended via video link from Goa.
INS Vagir is part of six Kalvari-class submarines being built in India. The submarines, designed by the French naval defense and energy company DCNS, are being built as part of Project 75 of the Indian Navy.
These submarines can undertake missions such as anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine-laying and area surveillance, an official said.
Vagir is named after the sandfish, a deadly deep-sea predator from the Indian Ocean. The first Vagir, a Russian submarine, entered service with the Indian Navy on December 3, 1973 and was decommissioned on June 7, 2001 after nearly three decades of service to the nation.
“Building the Scorpene was indeed a challenge for MDL, as the complexity of the simplest tasks increased exponentially as all work has to be done in the most congested spaces,” MDL said in a statement.
“The cutting-edge technology used in the submarine has ensured superior stealth characteristics, such as advanced acoustic absorption techniques, low levels of radiated noise and hydrodynamically optimized form and also the ability to attack the enemy using precision guided weapons,” said Liberation. .
The attack can be launched with both torpedoes and anti-ship missiles launched from a tube, while underwater or on the surface, MDL said. “The stealth of this powerful platform is enhanced by special attention to its signature underwater characteristics. These stealth characteristics give it an invulnerability, unmatched by most submarines,” he added.
The submarine is designed to operate in all theaters of operations, showing interoperability with other components of a Naval Task Force, MDL said.
“With the launch of Vagir, India further consolidates its position as a submarine-building nation. This is in step with the government’s current momentum towards Make in India and Atma Nirbhar Bharat,” said MDL.
Two ongoing Project-75 Scorpene submarines at MDL, Kalvari and Khanderi, have been commissioned into the Indian Navy. The third submarine, Karanj, is in the final phase of rigorous sea trials. The fourth Scorpene, Vela, has started her sea trials, while the sixth and final submarine, Vagsheer, is preparing for launch together.
“Two SSK submarines built by MDL during 1992-94 are in active service, which is a testament to the professionalism and competence of the Mazagon Dock staff,” he said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is posted from a syndicated channel.)
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