India's naval strength surges as last Scorpene-class submarine delivered

The Indian Navy has officially received the final submarine from its six-strong fleet of Scorpene-class diesel-electric submarines, marking a significant milestone in the country's naval capabilities.

This was confirmed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), the state-owned company responsible for the construction of these advanced vessels, Caliber.Az reports referring to Russian media sources.

The submarine, named Vaghsheer, was launched on April 20, 2022, and after completing a series of rigorous trials and tests, it is now ready to join the Indian Navy. The delivery of Vaghsheer brings India into the exclusive club of countries capable of building advanced submarines.

In a statement, MDL highlighted, "The delivery of six submarines — Kalvari, Khanderi, Karanj, Vela, Vagir, and now Vaghsheer — confirms India’s membership in the exclusive group of submarine-building nations."

These Scorpene-class submarines are equipped with a range of capabilities, including anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine-laying, and surveillance. Each vessel is armed with Exocet SM39 anti-ship missiles and C303/S anti-torpedo systems, enhancing the Indian Navy's offensive and defensive capabilities.

MDL also boasted of its growing capacity, stating, "Today, MDL is capable of building 10 large warships and 11 submarines simultaneously. Additional programmes are underway to significantly expand the shipyard's capacity to meet future demands."

India signed a contract with France’s Naval Group in 2005 to build the Scorpene-class submarines, with the first submarine, Kalvari, commissioned in 2017. These submarines are designed to replace the ageing Russian-built Kilo-class submarines currently in service with the Indian Navy.

By Tamilla Hasanova