India is among few countries in the world which produces conventional submarines. In a huge feat, INS Khanderi, the second Scorpene class submarine, was launched at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai on Thursday. With this launch, a trail of events has been initiated which will lead to the separation of the submarine from the pontoon on which it is being assembled. Till December 2017, the submarine will undergo rigorous tests and trials.
The main features of the submarine include superior stealth and the ability to launch a crippling attack on the enemy using precision guided weapons.
Indian Navy said, “Six submarines are being built at MDL in collaboration with M/s DCNS of France, as a part of Project 75 of Indian Navy. The first submarine of the class (Kalvari) is completing its sea trials and will be commissioned shortly into the Indian Navy.”
Second Scorpene class submarine Khanderi launched in Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/g7mEhOA560
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 12, 2017
Khanderi is named after the Island fort of Maratha forces, which played a vital role in ensuring their supremacy at sea in the late 17th century. Here is what makes this second Scorpene class Submarine so special.
- The state-of-the-art features of this Scorpene class submarine include superior stealth and the ability to launch a crippling attack on the enemy using precision guided weapons. The attack can be launched with torpedoes, as well as tube-launched anti-ship missiles, whilst underwater or on the surface. The stealth features will give it an invulnerability, unmatched by many submarines.
- The submarine is designed to operate in all tropics and theatres. Several means and communications have been provided to ensure interoperability with other components of a Naval Task Force.
- It can undertake multifarious types of missions typically undertaken by any modern submarine i.e Anti-Surface warfare, Anti-Submarine warfare, Intelligence gathering, Mine Laying, Area Surveillance etc.
- It is built according to the principle of Modular Construction, which involves dividing the submarine into a
number of sections and outfitting them concurrently. - The equipment is mounted in a special manner and then embarked into the sections. The complexity of the task increases exponentially as it involves laying kilometres of cabling and piping in extremely congested compartments.
- Till December, the submarine will undergo rigorous trials and tests, both in harbour and at sea, while on surface and whilst dived. These trials are designed to test each system to its fullest capacity. Thereafter, she would be commissioned into the Indian Navy as INS Khanderi.
- The first Khanderi was commissioned into the Navy on December 6, 1968, and decommissioned on October 18, 1989. The launching and subsequent commissioning of Khanderi marks a generational shift in technology.
Shortly before INS Khanderi, INS Kalvari will be commissioned this year. The other four submarines will follow in the wake of Khanderi at intervals of nine months. As per tradition, ships and submarines of the Navy, are brought alive again after decommissioning.
