In News: Indian Navy’s fifth Kalvari-class Diesel Electric attack submarine INS Vagir was launched at Mazgaon Dock in Mumbai
Kalvari-class background
- The other vessels of the Kalvari class are INS Kalvari, INS Khanderi, INS Karanj, INS Vela and INS Vagsheer.
- Kalvari and Khanderi have been commissioned in 2017 and 2019, Vela and Karanj and undergoing sea trials, Vagir has now been launched and Vagsheer is under construction.
- The submarines in the current Kalvari-class take their names from erstwhile decommissioned classes of submarines named Kalvari which included Kalvari, Khanderi, Karanj and Vela class — which included Vela, Vagir, Vagshir.
- The now-decommissioned Kalvari and Vela classes were one of the earliest of the submarines in the post-independence Indian Navy, which belonged to Soviet origin Foxtrot class of vessels.
Important Facts About Kalvari Class Submarines
- These submarines are built under Project 75 and their design is based on the Scorpene class of the submarines.
- Constructed by the public sector shipbuilder Mazagon Dock Ltd (MDL) in Mumbai.
- Used in anti-warship and anti-submarine operations, intelligence gathering and surveillance and naval mine laying.
- Design is based on Scorpene class of submarines designed and developed by French defence major Naval Group formerly DCNS and Spanish state owned entity Navantia.
India’s Current submarine fleet
- India operates one submarine each in nuclear powered Classes of Chakra and Arihant
- In addition to 14 submarines belonging to three classes of Diesel Electric category — Kalvari, Shishumar and Sindhughosh.
Source: Indian Express
