India’s First of Six Scorpene-class Submarine, INS Kalvari Commissioned

The first of six India’s homegrown Scorpene-class submarines, INS Kalvari was commissioned for the Indian Navy by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, Mumbai today.

The six Scorpene submarines being constructed in the country with technology transfer from French firm DCNS under a Rs 23,562-crore (US $3.6 billion) programme called Project 75.

The scorpenes would be equipped with a new anaerobic propulsion system (AIP) developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Six Scorpene submarines were ordered in 2005, and are being built at Mazagaon Docks (MDL) with technical assistance and transfer of technology as well as equipment from DCNS (now Naval Group).

The Scorpene submarine is one of the newer submarines of the Indian Navy, and has the capability of launching an anti-ship missile from below the surface of water which is expected to boost the navy. Sensitive data related to the Scorpene was leaked in the Australian media last year. A committee was set up to look into the matter.

In early March, the Indian Navy conducted the maiden firing of an SM39 anti-ship missile from INS Kalvari. The missile hit a surface target at extended ranges during the trial firing, and not only for the Kalvari submarine, but also in enhancing the Indian Navy’s sub-surface warfare capability.

All six Scorpene being built in India are to be equipped with anti-ship missiles, which can help neutralise surface threats at extended ranges.