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INS Kalvari commissioned! India's first Scorpene-class submarine has finally entered service with PM Narendra Modi commissioning it. Indian Navy is down to a dozen submarines and and with INS Kalvari, said to be one of the most lethal submarines, it is bound to get a big boost in its defence and attack capabilities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called INS Kalvari the best example of 'Make in India'. From precision strike capabilities to advantage of operating in shallow waters, we take a look at what makes INS Kalvari a special submarine:
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GSL and Naval Group have signed a 'Letter of Intent' to expand and develop their partnership in design and production of all shore-based simulators for Scorpene-class submarines.
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INS Kalvari boasts of "advanced weapons and sensors". These are integrated into the submarine tactical integrated combat system.
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The submarine "embodies cutting-edge technology and compares favourably with the best in the world". According to the Defence Ministry, the hull form, the fin and the hydroplanes have been designed in a way that they produce minimum underwater resistance.
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INS Kalvari: The submarine is 67.5 metres long and has a height of 12.3 metres.
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INS Kalvari has undergone extensive sea-trials over the past year-and-a-half. It has successfully test-fired anti-ship missiles and torpedoes. These precision-strike weapons give Kalvari and as a result the Indian Navy, a tactical advantage and leg-up in the Indian Ocean region.
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The submarine boasts of a highly advanced combat management system and a sophisticated integrated platform management system, claims the Ministry of Defence.
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The submarine can engage the enemy by utilising either the sea skimming SM 39 EXOCET missiles or the heavyweight wire guided surface and underwater target torpedoes. The submarine is fitted with mobile C303/S anti-torpedo decoys.
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The battery cells (360 in number, each weighing 750 kg!) power the "extremely silent" permanently magnetised propulsion motor. The fact that the submarine is so silent, gives it an edge against the enemy.
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According to the Indian Navy, the stealth of INS Kalvari is further enhanced through the mounting of equipment inside the pressure hull on shock absorbing cradles.
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The submarine's sonar suite allows for long-range detection and classification.
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The submarine's attack and search periscopes are equipped with infrared/low light level cameras and laser range finders.
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Kalvari has two 1250 kW MAN diesel engines for rapidly charging batteries. The 1,565-tonne submarine has a speed of 20 knots.
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The submarine's crest depicts a Kalvari, which is a tiger shark in Malayalam. The submarine's motto is "Ever Onward".
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Under Project 75, India's Mazagaon Dock Limited (MDL) is manufacturing six Scorpene-class submarines in collaboration with French defence major DCNS.
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Yet another advantage of the INS Kalvari is the fact that that it gives the indigenous defence industry a big boost. With INS Kalvari and the other five Scorpene-class submarines being made in India, defence experts are of the view that in future, India will be able to make state-of-the-art submarines. This ship-building capability would play a crucial role in execution of 'Project-75 India', which aims to make advanced submarines for the Indian Navy.
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