India’s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) recently handed over the sixth Scorpene-class submarine, Vaghsheer, to the Indian Navy under Project P-75.
Scorpene Submarines
Scorpene-class submarines are diesel-electric attack submarines built for stealth operations, targeting enemy vessels, and intelligence gathering.
Development and Launch:
These submarines were developed under Project P-75, initiated in 2005 as part of a $3.75 billion agreement between Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and the French defense firm Naval Group, with a focus on technology transfer.
Submarines under Project P-75:
- INS Kalvari – Commissioned in 2017
- INS Khanderi – Commissioned in 2019
- INS Karanj – Commissioned in 2021
- INS Vela – Commissioned in 2021
- INS Vagir – Commissioned in January 2023
- INS Vaghsheer – Delivered in 2024 following sea trials in 2023
Key Features of Scorpene Submarines:
Capabilities:
- Designed for Anti-Surface and Anti-Submarine Warfare, intelligence collection, and area surveillance.
- Equipped to launch torpedoes and tube-launched anti-ship missiles.
Propulsion System:
- Diesel-electric propulsion with an endurance of approximately 50 days.
- Upgraded with Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) systems starting 2024 to enhance underwater endurance and stealth.
Advanced Systems:
- Integrated Platform Management and Combat Management Systems for high-level automation.
- Incorporates indigenously developed Air Conditioning Plant and Internal Communication System from INS Vaghsheer onwards.
Stealth Technology:
- Built with advanced stealth features to minimize detection by adversaries.
