Fifth Scorpene Submarine Vagir Delivered to Indian Navy

Sixth Submarine set for delivery in 2024

- GULSHAN LUTHRA

MUMBAI. The fifth Scorpene submarine, Vagir, was delivered to the Indian Navy on December 20 and is set for ceremonial commissioning in January 2023 after routine procedural paperwork and checks. By 2024, the last of the six contracted Scorpene boats, Vagsheer, is also due for delivery.

Built by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) here in collaboration with the French Naval Group, the boat has completed all the "major trials including the weapon and sensor trials in the shortest time in comparison to the earlier submarines."

Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar told India Strategic in an interview that the Navy is progressing the "augmentation of the submarine fleet in accordance with the 30-year Submarine building programme sanctioned by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), the apex body for defence, in 1999. "While there have been delays in the ongoing Project 75 programme of the Kalvari Class - it is envisaged that the delivery of last submarine under the programme will be 2024."

The 1999 programme sanctioned 24 advanced technology diesel electric submarines.

PROJECT 75(1) WITH AIP

The Indian Navy is also processing a case for another six diesel electric submarines but with Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) to give them longer time underwater. India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has been working on developing the system in collaboration with a foreign shipbuilder for some time.