INS Vagir and Project 75

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    • The fifth Scorpène submarine, Vagir of Project – 75 Kalvari Class submarines has been delivered to the Indian Navy by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) Mumbai. 
      • The submarine would shortly be commissioned into the Navy and enhance its capability.

    About Project 75 

    • Project 75 includes the indigenous construction of six submarines of Scorpene design. 
    • These submarines are being constructed at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) Mumbai, under collaboration with Naval Group, France.
    • Six Scorpene submarines are being built under Project-75 by MDL under technology transfer from Naval Group of France under a $3.75 billion deal signed in October 2005. 
      • The project is about four years behind schedule.

    About INS Vagir

    • Vagir was launched into water on November 12, 2020, and commenced sea trials on February 1, 2022.
    • It has completed all major trials including the weapon and sensor trials in the shortest time in comparison to the earlier submarines.

    Other submarines

    • The sixth and last of the Scorpène-class submarines,  Vagsheer, was launched into water in April 2022 and is expected to be delivered to the Navy by end 2023.
      • The first submarine INS  Kalvari was commissioned in December 2017, second submarine INS  Khanderi in September 2019, the third one INS  Karanj in March 2021 and the fourth one INS  Vela joined service in November 2021.
    • Parallelly, the tender to build six more advanced conventional submarines under Project-75I is in the Request For Proposal (RFP) stage but has suffered delays.

    Do You Know?

    • The Navy currently has 15 conventional and one nuclear submarine in service. 
      • It includes seven Russian Kilo-class submarines, four German HDW submarines, four Scorpene class submarines and the indigenous nuclear ballistic missile submarine INS  Arihant.
    • The Navy has drawn up plans to install Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) modules on all Scorpene submarines as they go for their refit beginning with INS Kalvari in the next couple of years to enhance their endurance. Development of an indigenous AIP module developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is in the advanced stages.

    Source:TH

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