With the launch of Vagsheer in a function held at Mumbai on Wednesday, India further cements its position as a Submarine Building Nation.
The Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) Mumbai continues to push forward a glorious trail in India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.
Defence Secretary Veena Ajay Kumar was the chief guest of the function.
Vagsheer is named after a Sand Fish, a deadly deep sea predator of the Indian Ocean.
The Submarine will undergo a very comprehensive and rigorous set of tests and trials, for more than a year, to ensure delivery of a fully combat worthy submarine, capable of operation in all modes and regimes of deployment, the official note said.
The state-of-art technology utilised in the Scorpene has ensured superior stealth features (such as advanced acoustic absorption techniques, low radiated noise levels, hydro-dynamically optimised shape etc.) and the ability to launch a crippling attack on the enemy using precision guided weapons.
The attack can be launched with both torpedoes and tube launched anti-ship missiles, whilst underwater or on surface.
The stealth of this potent platform is enhanced by the special attention provided to her characteristic underwater signatures. These stealth features give it an invulnerability, unmatched by most submarines.
The first Submarine Vagsheer, ex-Russia, was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 26 December 1974, and was decommissioned on 30 April 1997 after almost three decades of yeoman service to the nation.
Scorpene submarines can undertake multifarious types of missions i.e anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying, area surveillance etc.
The submarine is designed to operate in all theatres of operation, showcasing interoperability with other components of a Naval Task Force. It is a potent platform, marking a transformational shift in submarine operations.
Four Submarines of the ongoing Project-75 Scorpene programme at MDL, Kalvari, Khanderi, Karanj and Vela have been commissioned into the Indian Navy.
The Fifth Submarine Vagir is under Sea trials phase, whilst sixth and last Submarine will also undergo Sea trials after launching.
The Scorpene project would not have achieved the current progress without the unconditional support, course correction and active encouragement of the Department of Defence Production (MoD) and Indian Navy throughout it’s various phases of construction.
