Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) has launched the Indian Navy’s sixth and final Scorpene submarine of Project 75, Yard 11880.
The submarine launch event was marked by a ceremony held at MDL’s Kanhoji Angre Wet Basin in Mumbai.
INS Vagsheer is named after a sea predator sand fish of the Indian Ocean.
The new submarine will now undergo a series of comprehensive sea trials and tests for around a year, according to information provided by the Indian Ministry of Defence.
The tests will validate the new submarine’s capabilities to operate in different modes and regimes of deployment and its combat worthiness.
Delivery of the sixth submarine to the Indian Navy is expected to take place by late 2023.
INS Vagsheer is equipped with various stealth technology features including low radiated noise levels, advanced acoustic absorption methods, and hydro-dynamically optimised shape.
The submarine is capable of attacking its enemy, both underwater and on surface, using tube and torpedo lunched anti-ship missiles.
The Indian Navy’s Scorpene-class attack submarines can perform multiple missions including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, surveillance, intelligence gathering and mine laying operations.
Under the Project 75, four Scorpene attack submarines have already been commissioned into the Indian Navy.
The first four submarines are INS Kalvari, INS Khanderi, INS Karanj and INS Vela.
Currently, the fifth submarine, INS Vagir, is under sea trial phase.
Furthermore, MDL is also working on the Project 15B (P 15B) Visakhapatnam-class guided-missile destroyers and Project 17A (P 17A) Nilgiri-class stealth frigates for the Indian Navy.
In 2021, the Indian Navy commissioned the first guided missile destroyer, INS Visakhapatnam, under its P 15B.
