Fifth Kalvari Class Submarine ‘Vagir’ commissioned at Mumbai Naval Dockyard
- Adm R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff, was the chief guest
- INS Vagir will be part of the Western Naval Command’s submarine fleet
- Has the distinction of having the shortest build time
New Delhi, Jan 23, 2023: The Indian Navy commissioned its fifth stealth Scorpene class submarine, INS Vagir, at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai on January 23rd.
Adm R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff, was the chief guest at the ceremony.
The Scorpene class submarines are being built in India by the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai, in collaboration with the French company, M/s Naval Group.
INS Vagir will be part of the Western Naval Command’s submarine fleet and will be a powerful addition to the command’s arsenal.
The submarine was launched on November 12th, 2020, as part of Project 75 (P75) and was delivered to the Indian Navy on December 20th, 2022, after completing sea trials. INS Vagir has the distinction of having the shortest build time among all indigenously manufactured submarines to date.
The Scorpene submarines are highly advanced platforms equipped with stealth features, long-range guided torpedoes, and anti-ship missiles. They also have state-of-the-art sonar and sensor suites, giving them exceptional operational capabilities.
Speaking on the occasion CNS stated that INS Vagir will give a significant fillip to the Indian Navy’s operational might and serve as a potent deterrent for any adversary.
He also highlighted that Vagir is the third submarine inducted into the Navy in a short span of 24 months.
“This underscores the coming of age of India’s shipbuilding industry, and the maturing of our defence ecosystem. It is also a shining testimony to the expertise and experience of our shipyards to construct complex & complicated platforms and serves to reinforce Indian Navy’s unequivocal commitment and steadfast resolve to be a fully ‘AatmaNirbhar’ force by 2047”.
Congratulating the CMD and personnel of Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd for their commendable efforts which have led up to Vagir’s commissioning CNS stated that MDL is a close and valued partner for the Indian Navy & has been at the forefront of Navy’s transition from a ‘Buyer’s Navy’ to a ‘Builder’s Navy’.
