India's New Submarine To Join Fleet

India is yet to induct the six Scorpene submarines and expects to commission the first in August 2017, five years behind schedule. The programme for building the next six modern submarines has just begun, again behind schedule by over five years now. A Geopolitics compilation

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India is all set to induct its first new submarine in over a decade when the now under trial, Kalvari, is formally commissioned into the Indian Navy service in August 2017, sharpening its underwater warfare capabilities. The Indian Navy, along with the manufacturer, Mumbai-based Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) is readying the vessel for its induction at the time of going to the press.

"The induction of the Kalvari class submarines will enhance the capabilities of the Indian Navy to meet envisaged threats and missions," according to India's Ministry of State for Defence Dr. Subhash Bhamre in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on July 21 this year. The second of the six Scorpene submarines is now handed over to the Indian Navy for sea trial since June this year. The second submarine, Khanderi, was launched in January 2017 and is scheduled for delivery in December 2017.

The Scorpene, being built with help from the now Naval Group of France (formerly DCNS) under the ₹23,562-crore Project 75, is expected to become the main conventional submarine of the Indian fleet and replace the ageing Russian Kilo class and German HDW vessels that are almost three decades old. "The Scorpene class submarines will not only add to our future naval power and strengthen defence but also make our ocean safe and secure," Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said in a tweet on June 2 after launching Khanderi at Mumbai.

The Navy has in the first week of May this year successfully test-fired an antiship missile for the first time from the Kalvari. The Navy described the launch as a significant milestone in enhancing its "sub-surface" warfare prowess. The weapon was fired from the submarine and it "successfully hit" a surface target during the trial in the Arabian Sea.