SOURCE: UNI
The Indian Navy is continuously increasing its strength in the sea. In this sequence, to boost its underwater strength, the Navy will induct its sixth and last Kalvari class submarine Vaghsheer in December. This submarine was built under the Project 75 program worth Rs 23562 crore.
According to a Hindustan Times report, officials said the submarine, built at Mumbai’s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), is undergoing final trials. With a transfer from French firm Naval Group, the yard has built Kalvari-class (Scorpene) diesel-electric attack submarines. These submarines can carry out various missions such as anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, long-range attacks, special operations and intelligence gathering.
India is in talks with France to build three more such submarines at MDL to strengthen its maritime position in the vast Indian Ocean region. Earlier on August 29, India commissioned its second indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, INS Arighat, at Visakhapatnam in the presence of Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.
On this occasion, Rajnath Singh had said that it will further strengthen India’s nuclear triangle, enhance nuclear deterrence and help establish strategic balance in the region. Arighat or S-3 is the second Arihant class submarine and is more advanced than INS Arihant (S-2).
The country’s third nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, the Arihant or S-4, will also be commissioned next year. It will be followed by a fourth SSBN codenamed S-4. The last two submarines of the Arihant class will be larger and capable of launching long-range missiles. The Navy is also considering building two nuclear-powered conventionally armed submarines to deter the country’s enemies in the Indo-Pacific region.