The Indian Navy has launched the third Scorpene-class submarine, the future INS Karanj, at Mazagon Dock shipyard in Mumbai.
The newly launched vessel is currently scheduled to undergo a series of in-harbour and at-sea trials before it is commissioned into service.
In a statement posted on Indian Press Information Bureau, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba said that ‘the launch of Karanj marked a significant departure from the manning and training philosophy that was adopted for the first two submarines’.
A total of six Scorpene-class submarines are currently being developed and built for delivery to the Indian Navy.
Naval Group, formerly DCNS, is functioning as the collaborator for the project under the construction and transfer-of-technology contract, while Mazagon Dock is acting as the shipbuilder.
The first Scorpene-class submarine, INS Kalvari, was previously commissioned into the Indian Navy on 14 December last year.
The second vessel of the class, the future INS Khanderi, was launched in January 2017 and is currently undergoing a series of sea trials before delivery to the navy.
Scorpene-class submarines feature modern acoustic silencing techniques, low radiated noise levels and a hydro-dynamically optimised shape.
The vessels are able to launch an attack using precision guided weapons.
In addition, the submarines are capable of launching an attack on the enemy using both torpedoes and tube-launched, anti-ship missiles.
The vessels can be deployed to carry out a wide range of missions such as anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying and area surveillance.
The submarines are designed to operate in all theatres and ensure interoperability with the other components of a naval task force.
