New Delhi: Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), a premier public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Defence, has achieved another milestone with the delivery of the sixth Scorpene-class submarine, Vaghsheer, to the Indian Navy. This marks a significant step in the nation's pursuit of self-reliance under the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' and 'Make in India' initiatives. The submarine, upon commissioning, will be christened INS Vaghsheer.
The official handover ceremony, held at MDL, was marked by the signing of the acceptance document by MDL's Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Sanjeev Singhal and the Chief Staff Officer (Technical) of the Western Naval Command Rear Admiral R. Adhisrinivasan. Distinguished Navy officials and MDL directors were also present on the occasion.
Launched on April 20, 2022, Vaghsheer has undergone extensive trials and testing over more than a year to ensure it meets rigorous operational and combat standards. Speaking at the event, Shri Singhal emphasized the significance of this delivery in cementing India's position as a submarine-building nation. MDL remains the only Indian shipyard capable of producing such advanced underwater combat platforms, meeting the strategic requirements of the Indian Navy.
The delivery of Vaghsheer completes the Project P-75 series, which includes five other submarines: Kalvari, Khanderi, Karanj, Vela, and Vagir. This achievement places India among an elite group of nations capable of designing and building state-of-the-art submarines.
The Scorpene-class submarines boast cutting-edge technology, ensuring superior stealth capabilities through advanced acoustic absorption techniques, low noise emissions, and an optimized hydrodynamic shape. These features enable the submarine to conduct precision attacks using torpedoes and tube-launched anti-ship missiles, either underwater or on the surface.
Designed for versatility, Vaghsheer can perform a range of missions, including anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, and area surveillance. It integrates sophisticated systems such as the Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) and Combat Management System (CMS) to harmonize its diverse components into a formidable combat unit.
Vaghsheer stands out from its predecessors with several indigenously developed features, including an air-conditioning plant, internal communication and broadcast systems, and Ku-band SATCOM (Rukmini). These enhancements reflect India's growing capabilities in defence manufacturing.
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