Source: The Hindu
Why in News?
Recently, the 5th Scorpene class submarine of Project-75 named INS ‘Vagir’ has been delivered to the Indian Navy today.
It is a Kalvari class diesel-electric attack submarine, Yard 11879, which when commissioned will be christened INS Vagir.
What is INS Vagir?
Background:
The first Vagir, a submarine from Russia, was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 3rd December 1973 and was decommissioned on 7th June 2001 after almost three decades of service to the nation.
Public shipbuilder Mazagon Dock Ltd (MDL) gave a new incarnation to the submarine with the same name.
About:
- It is named after the Sand Fish, a deadly deep-sea predator of the Indian Ocean.
- It is a part of the six Kalvari-class submarines being built in India.
- The Kalvari-class submarines have the capability of operating in a wide range of Naval combat including anti-warship and anti-submarine operations, intelligence gathering and surveillance, and naval mine laying.
The state-of-art technology used in the submarine has ensured:
Superior stealth features such as advanced acoustic absorption techniques, low radiated noise levels, and hydro-dynamically optimised shape.
The ability to attack the enemy using precision guided weapons.
Features:
- The submarine is designed to operate in all theatres of operation, showcasing interoperability with other components of a Naval Task Force.
- It can launch attacks with both torpedoes and tube launched anti-ship missiles, whilst underwater or on surface.
- It can undertake multifarious types of missions i.e Anti-Surface warfare, Anti-Submarine warfare, Intelligence gathering, Mine Laying, Area Surveillance, etc.
Significance:
Construction of these submarines in an Indian yard is another step towards ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and enhances self-confidence in this field, a notable achievement is that this is the third submarine delivered to the Indian Navy in a span of 24 months.
What is Project-75?
About:
- It is a programme by the Indian Navy that entails building six Scorpene Class attack submarines.
- Scorpene is a conventional powered submarine weighing 1,500 tonnes and can go up to depths of 300m.
- The Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) is manufacturing six Scorpene submarines with technology assistance from Naval Group of France under a USD 3.75 bn deal signed in October 2005.
- Project 75 includes the indigenous construction of six submarines.
Other submarines of the ongoing Project-75:
The first submarine INS Kalvari was commissioned into Indian Navy December 2017, second submarine INS Khanderi in September 2019, third one INS Karanj in March 2021 and the fourth one INS Vela joined service in November 2021.
The sixth and last submarine, Vagsheer, is expected to be delivered to the Navy by end 2023.
