By A Correspondent
In a boost to the Indian Navy’s underwater capabilities, INS Vela, a Scorpene class submarine was rolled out in the waters in the presence of the Defence Secretary Production on Monday.
This is the fourth submarine in the series of the six submarines being built at Mazagon Dock Ltd, Mumbai under Project 75. The Scorpene class submarine in the Indian Navy has been termed as the Kalvari class.
The submarine after completing its out fittings at the dock based on the ocean tide it was launched for extensive trials. At the MDL the balance two submarines Vagir and Vagsheer are in the advance stages of construction on the assembly line. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has also approved the acquisition of more than 100 heavyweight torpedoes to be equipped on six Scorpene-class submarines.
As per the contract French Company DCNS (now Naval Group) and the MDL had inked in 2005 $ 3.75 billion agreement for the licensed production of six submarines under Project-75 for the Indian Navy and the French Company had decided to transfer technology and jointly build in India. The contract is expected to be completed by next year.
Two other submarines INS Khanderi and INS Karanj built at MDL are in line to be commissioned in the Indian Navy. According to senior naval officers INS Khanderi has completed all trials and is in the final stages of acceptance.
According to the 30 year submarine building plan approved in 1999, the Indian Navy needs at least 24 submarines to meet the growing presence of the Chinese presence in the waters.
The Scorpene class submarines which have the capability to be operational in any theatre also have the capability of undertaking different types of missions, which include anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying and area surveillance. They have top end stealth features which includes advanced acoustic silencing techniques, low radiated noise levels, hydro-dynamically optimised shape and the ability to launch a crippling attack on the enemy using precision guided weapons.
The Indian Navy is currently operating 4 German HDW-class and 9 Russian Kilo-class submarines. In 2000 July, it had inducted a conventional diesel-electric submarine, INS Sindhushastra, procured from Russia.