{ WITH FRENCH NAVAL GROUP } - MDL in race to seal deal on 3 Kalvari submarines

MDL IS FINALISING LAST OF THE 6 KALVARI CLASS SUBMARINE, INS VAGSHEER, BEFORE COMMENCEMENT OF SEA TRIALS

- Shishir Gupta

With Pakistan soon to acquire eight Chinese Yuan class submarines between 20232028, pressure has mounted on Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL) to conclude a deal for building three additional diesel-electric Kalvari class submarines with French Naval Group this year so that its submarine building capacity (currently 11) does not turn idle by the end of the year.

MDL is giving finishing touches to the last of the six Kalvari (Scorpene) class submarines, INS Vagsheer, before commencement of sea trials, and has begun negotiations with Naval Group for the additional three submarines which will have features that are operation-specific and with indigenous torpedos and air independent propulsion (AIP) for longer endurance. It is understood that the heavyweight indigenous torpedo and AIP are currently being tested in France for operational validation.