Indian Navy has recently launched its fifth Kalvari-class Diesel Electric attack submarine INS Vagir at Mazgaon Dock in Mumbai. The design of this class is based on the Scorpene class of the submarines.
There are five vessels in the class namely, INS Kalvari, INS Khanderi, INS Karanj, INS Vela and INS Vagsheer and the fifth one being INS Vagir. Of these, 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. INS Vagir is all set for Harbour trials followed by Sea Acceptance Trials after which the submarine would be delivered to the Navy.
The very first Vagir was brought in from Russia which was commissioned into Indian Navy on 3rd December 1973. It was decommissioned later on 7th June 2001. It is named after the Sand Fish, a deadly deep sea predator found in Indian Ocean. It is said to have advanced technology with superior stealth features such as advanced acoustic absorption techniques, low radiated noise levels and hydro-dynamically optimised shape. It also has precision guided weapons.
The submarine is designed to operate in all theatres of operation, showcasing interoperability with other components of a Naval Task Force. It can launch attacks with both torpedoes and tube launched anti-ship missiles, whilst underwater or on surface. It can undertake multifarious types of missions i.e Anti-Surface warfare, Anti-Submarine warfare, Intelligence gathering, Mine Laying, Area Surveillance, etc.
The Submarines belonging to the Kalvari class are based on Scorpene class designed by French defence major Naval Group formerly DCNS and Spanish state owned entity Navantia. Such submarines are made to attack other submarines which are designed to target and sink naval vessels. These submarines are around 220 feet long with a height of 40 feet. They have a wide range of combat like anti-warship and anti-submarine operations, intelligence and surveillance and naval mine lying. Recent variants of the Scorpence class of submarines have Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) which lets non-nuclear submarines to operate under water for longer without access to surface oxygen. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is currently programming to build a fuel cell-based AIP system or Indian Naval Submarines.
Minister of State for Defence Shripad Yesso Naik presided over the ceremony via videoconferencing from Goa and the submarine was formally named Vagir in accordance with the Naval traditions by his wife Vijaya Naik.
