New Delhi: The fifth submarine of Project 75, Yard 11879, Indian Navy's Kalvari class commenced her sea trials on February 1, 2022. The submarine was launched in November 2020 from the Kanhoji Angre Wet Basin of Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL). The submarine would be named Vagir, after commissioning.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, MDL has delivered two submarines of the Project – 75 in the year 2021 and the commencement of sea trials of the fifth submarine is a significant milestone. The submarine will now undergo intense trials of all its systems at sea, including propulsion systems, weapons and sensors. The submarine is scheduled for delivery to the Indian Navy in the year 2022 after the completion of these trials.

Project-75 submarines

The Project 75 (India)-class submarines, or P-75I, for short, are a planned class of diesel-electric submarines, which are to be built for the Indian Navy. The P-75I class is a follow-on of the P-75 class submarines of the Indian Navy. Under this project, the Indian Navy intends to acquire six conventional, diesel-electric attack submarines, which will also feature advanced capabilities – including air-independent propulsion (AIP), ISR, special operations forces (SOF), anti-ship warfare (AShW), anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), land-attack capabilities and other features.

MDL

Mumbai (Mazagaon) based MDL manufactures warships and submarines for the Indian Navy and offshore platforms and associated support vessels for offshore oil drilling. It also builds tankers, cargo bulk carriers, passenger ships and ferries. MDL shipyard was nationalised back in 1960 and is now a Public Sector Undertaking of the Government of India.

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