India launches fifth Scorpène-class submarine

India’s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) has launched the fifth of six Kalvari (Scorpène)-class diesel-electric attack submarines (SSKs) being licence-built for the Indian Navy (IN).

Named Vagir, the 67.6 m-long boat entered the water on 12 November at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai and is expected to undergo setting-to-work and sea trails before being delivered to the IN by about mid-2022.

The submarine, which is part of the IN’s INR235.62 billion (USD3.15 billion) Project 75 programme, follows INS Kalvari and INS Khanderi – which were commissioned in December 2017 and September 2019 – and Karanj and Vela, which were launched in January 2018 and May 2019. The latter two are currently undergoing sea trials and are scheduled for commissioning in 2021 and early 2022, IN sources told Janes.

The sixth and final submarine, Vagsheer, is in an advanced stage of construction, and is likely to be launched in 2021. All six Kalvari-class boats are expected to be in service by late 2022 or early 2023, IN sources said.

MDL has been licence-building the boats in collaboration with France’s Naval Group but the programme has been delayed by six years.

Each submarine of the class displaces 1,615 tonnes when surfaced and 1,775 tonnes when submerged and is expected to incorporate advanced acoustic quieting systems to ensure stealth.

The SSKs, which are equipped with Exocet SM39 sea-skimming anti-ship missiles and C303/S anti-torpedo countermeasure systems, are capable of carrying out anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, intelligence-gathering, mine-laying, and surveillance operations.