Article Posted on : - Dec 21, 2022

The fifth Scorpene-class submarine 'Vagir' is expected to be commissioned into Service in January 2023. (Photo: Indian Navy)

NEW DELHI (PTI): The Indian Navy on Tuesday received the fifth Scorpene-class submarine ‘Vagir’ ahead of its planned commissioning next month, officials said.

The induction of the submarine, built under Project-75, is set to bolster Indian Navy's combat capability at a time when China has been increasing its presence in the Indian Ocean region (IOR).

In a related development, 'Arnala', the first of anti-submarine warfare corvettes being built by the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) for Indian Navy, was launched in Chennai on Tuesday.

India has been focusing on shoring up its maritime capability with a focus on the Indian Ocean in the backdrop of concerns over China's growing forays into the region, considered the strategic backyard of Indian Navy.

Project-75 includes the indigenous construction of six submarines of Scorpene design. The submarines are being constructed at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai in collaboration with the Naval Group of France.

"Launched on Nov 12, 2020, ‘Vagir’ commenced sea trials from February 1 and it is a matter of great pride that she has completed all major trials including the weapon and sensor trials in the shortest time in comparison to the earlier submarines," Navy Spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said.

"Submarine construction is an intricate activity as the difficulty is compounded when all equipment are required to be miniaturised and are subject to stringent quality requirements," he said.

Commander Madhwal said the construction of these submarines in an Indian yard is another step towards 'Atma Nirbhar Bharat'. He said the submarine would shortly be commissioned into the Indian Navy.

On the launch of 'Arnala', the Navy said the name has been chosen to signify the strategic maritime importance accorded to the island of Arnala (located about 13-km north of Vasai, Maharashtra) by the great Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

"The Arnala class of ships will replace the Abhay class anti-submarine warfare ships of the Indian Navy and are designed to undertake anti-submarine operations in coastal waters and low-intensity maritime operations (LIMO) including subsurface surveillance in littoral waters," it said.

On Dec 18, the Navy had commissioned the indigenously-built guided missile destroyer INS Mormugao.