India’s lethal submarines
The Scorpene submarines, designed by the French Naval Group (Formerly DCNS), are being built by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) in Mumbai as part of Project-75 of the Indian Navy. According to MDL, the technology being used for construction of the Scorpene class submarines has ensured superior stealth features such as advanced acoustic silencing techniques, low radiated noise levels and hydrodynamically optimized shape. “These stealth features give it an invulnerability, unmatched by most submarines,” said MDL. The submarines also have 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 the surface,” MDL had said.
INS Kalvari
It is India’s first Scorpene-class submarine and was commissioned into the Indian Navy in December 2017 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On the occasion, PM Modi had said Kalvari was an excellent example of ‘Make in India’ and will boost the Navy’s might. Kalvari is named after the dreaded Tiger Shark, a deadly deep sea predator of the Indian Ocean. The first Kalvari, commissioned on December 8, 1967, was also the first submarine of the Indian Navy. It was decommissioned on May 31, 1996, after nearly three decades of service.
INS Khanderi
INS Khanderi is India’s second Scorpene-class attack submarine. It is a diesel-electric attack submarine which is designed by French naval defense and energy company Naval Group (Formerly DCNS) and was manufactured at Mazagon Dock in Mumbai. The submarine can attack with torpedoes as well as tube-launched anti-ship missiles whilst underwater or on the surface. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commissioned in it Septmber 2019.
INS Karanj
The Scorpene-class submarine Karanj was launched at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai in January 2018. Karanj is the third of the six Scorpene-class submarines built by MDL under the Project 75 programme.