Scorpene Class Submarine: In a major boost to the country’s underwater warfare capabilities, Indian navy will induct the second Scorpene class stealth submarine INS Khanedri on September 28.
The submarine has successfully completed all trials and will be joining the Western Naval Command base in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The ceremony will be held in the presence of the defense Minister Rajnath Singh, chief of the Indian Navy Admiral Karambir Singh and other top naval officers.
The first Scorpene-class submarine was inducted in service in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2017.
Indian Navy has assigned its own designation to Scorpene class submarines and it will be known as Kalvari-class in the country.
These submarines come with state-of-the-art stealth technology and also has the ability to launch an attack on the enemy by using precision-guided weapon.
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It also has the capability of undertaking different kinds of missions like anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare. These submarines cal also be used in intelligence gathering, mine laying and area surveillance operations.
India France Scorpene submarine programme
India and France had signed a $ 3 billion contract in 2005 for the licensed production of six Scorpene-class submarines at MDL.
The programme was code named Project 75 and it was meant to provide replacement to Russian Kilo Class Submarines that formed the mainstay of Indian Navy’s offensive arm for decades.
The contract was between Naval Group of France and public sector ship manufacturer Mazagon Dock Shipbuliders Limited (MDL), Mumbai.
Third Scorpene class submarine INS Karanj has also reached the advanced stages of trial. INS Karanj is expected to join the Indian Navy later this year or early next year after completion of its trials.
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The fourth Scorpene Class submarine – INS Vela was also launched in water after all the outer work was complete.
The fifth and sixth submarines, the last two of the Project 75, have been named as Vagir and Vagsheer are under different stages of fabrication at MDL
