With an aim to boost Indian capability to defend and secure the strategic sea lanes, the Scorpene-class submarine Vela of Project 75 was launched at Mazagon Dockyard in Mumbai on May 6, 2019. This fourth of six underwater warships has been built in India with French collaborator, Ms Naval Group (formerly DCNS). INS Vela, first commissioned in 1973, served the Indian Navy for 37 years and was decommissioned in 2010. As of February 2019, India had 14 conventional submarines and two nuclear powered submarines. This launch reaffirms the steps, taken by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd. (MDL) in the ongoing ‘Make In India’ programme, being actively implemented by the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence (MoD). Before being commissioned in the defence fleet, the submarine will undergo several tests, conducted by the navy. The other three submarines MDL launched were Kalvari, Khanderi, and Karanj submarines.
Submarines were built in India first by MDL in 1992. Named as INS Shalki in 1987, this first submarine was launched by the then prime minister (late) Rajiv Gandhi. MDL is working on eight warships and five submarines with world-class skills for the construction. MDL had been asked to file 50 intellectual patents during the mission Raksha Gyan Shakti. The MDl exceeded largely by 130 per cent.
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The Submarine Vela
The Scorpene-class submarine has been termed the Kalvari-class in the Indian Navy. These submarines can undertake multifarious tasks typically undertaken by any modern submarine, including anti-surface as well as anti-submarine warfare. It is a diesel-electric attack submarine, based on the Scorpene class, designed by French naval defence and energy group DCNS, and manufactured by Mazagon Dock Limited.
These submarines have the capability to be operational in any theatre and are capable of undertaking different types of missions, like 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.
Project 75
The Project 75, cleared in 2007, is the main element of the strategic partnership built in the domain of submarine building, over the last decades between India and France. Accordingly, MDL will manufacture six Scorpene-class submarines, which are next-generation diesel submarines with better sensors and weapons and the air-independent propulsion system (AIP) for Indian Navy under technology transfer from Naval Group of France ($3.75 billion contract signed in 2005).
The transfer involves appropriate technical support by Naval Group to MDL in constructing, integrating, and testing of the submarines in India. It is to be achieved through transfer of technical data package to MDL through an information system and on the job training to MDL’s personnel on critical technologies.
The induction of all submarines is expected to be completed this year, i.e., 2020. Out of the six, INS Kalvari was commissioned in 2017, INS Khanderi second scorpene-class submarine was commissioned in India Navy in 2019. INS Karanj, the third scorpene-class submarine was commissioned in 2017. INS Vagir and INS Vagsheer are under construction at the MDL assembly line. Under it, submarines are being built using modular approach in which different sections are built separately and later assembled on pontoons or floats. They are fitted with indigenously developed Air Independent Propulsion System (AIP) technology by DRDO for extended endurance. Under project 75 (1), India has to manufacture 24 submarines, consisting of 18 conventional and 6 nuclear-powered submarines (SSNS). The plan ends in 2030.