India on Thursday unveiled INS Khanderi, the second Kalvari class submarine, at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai. The launch has initiated a trail of events, which will lead to the separation of the submarine from the pontoon on which it is being assembled and its final setting afloat, according to a report. “I am confident that the day is not too far when MDL (Mazagon Dock Limited) will build submarines for other nations as well,” Union Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre, who presided over the function, said. INS Khanderi 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.
INS 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, according to a PTI report. The state-of-the-art features of this Scorpene class submarine includes 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 surface. The Stealth features will give it an invulnerability, unmatched by many submarines. The submarine is designed to operate in all theatres, including the tropics. All means and communications are provided to ensure interoperability with other components of a Naval Task Force.
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“India is among few countries in the world which produces conventional submarines. 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,” the release said.
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Indian Navys Submarine arm will complete 50 years on December 8 this year. Submarine Day is celebrated every year to commemorate the birth of the submarine arm with induction of the first submarine, erstwhile INS Kalvari, into the Indian Navy on December 8, 1967, it said.
India joined the exclusive group of submarine constructing nations on February 7, 1992, with the commissioning of the first Indian-built submarine, INS Shalki. MDL built this submarine and went on to commission another submarine, INS Shankul on May 28, 1994. These submarines are still in service today.