Indian Navy’s fifth Scorpene-class submarine kicks off sea trials

Vagir, the Indian Navy’s fifth of six Scorpene-class submarines, started sea trials on 1 February, the navy’s officials revealed.

As informed, the vessel will undergo intense trials of all its systems at sea, including propulsion systems, weapons and sensors.

The new submarine was launched in November 2020 from the Kanhoji Angre Wet Basin of Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL). The vessel is part of a series of six Kalvari-class submarines that are being built in India and the ships have been designed by French DCNS.

The fifth Scorpene-class submarine is scheduled for delivery to the Indian Navy this year after the completion of these trials.

The Scorpene-class submarines are said to be among the most advanced conventional submarines in the world. More deadly and stealthier than their predecessors, these submarines are equipped with potent weapons and sensors to neutralize any threat above or below the sea surface.

Scorpene-class units are 67.5 meters long with a height of about 12.3 meters. They are fitted with 360 battery cells (each weighing 750 kg) powering the permanently magnetized propulsion motor.

Equipped with the submarine tactical integrated combat system (SUBTICS), sea-skimming SM 39 Exocet missiles or the heavyweight wire-guided surface and underwater target (SUT) torpedoes, they can undertake multifarious tasks which include anti-surface as well as anti­ submarine warfare.

The first submarine from the batch, INS Kalvari, was commissioned in December 2017 and the second, INS Khanderi, in September 2019.