Indigenously-made Kalvari class submarine Vagsheer commences sea trials

The indigenously-made Kalvari class submarine Vagsheer commenced her sea trials on Thursday (May 18, 2023).

This is the sixth submarine of Project 75, Yard 11880, which was launched in April 2022 from the Kanhoji Angre Wet Basin of Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL). A Scorpene design submarine, Vaghsheer is scheduled for delivery to the Indian Navy in early 2024 after completion of these trials.

"MDL has delivered three submarines of the Project – 75 in 24 months and the commencement of sea trials of the sixth submarine is a significant milestone. This is indicative of the boost towards AatmaNirbhar Bharat," the Ministry of Defence said on Friday. The submarine will now undergo intense trials of all its systems at sea, these include propulsion systems, weapons and sensors.

Project-75 involved indigenous construction of six submarines of Scorpene design. These submarines were constructed at MDL Mumbai, under collaboration with M/s Naval Group, France.

The first scorpene-class submarine INS Kalvari was commissioned in 2017 followed by the INS Khanderi in September 2019. Project-75’s INS Karanj and INS Vela were inducted into the Indian Navy in 2021.Vagir, the fifth indigenous Scorpene-class conventional submarine, was delivered to the Indian Navy in December 2022.

Scorpene-class submarines are a key asset for the Indian Navy and are capable of launching different kinds of torpedoes and missile systems. They are also equipped with a range of surveillance and intelligence gathering mechanisms.