TSAMTO, November 17. At the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai, the ceremony of handing over to the command of the Indian Navy the fourth of the six ordered Scorpen-class (Kalvari) submarines took place.
According to the Ministry of Defense of India, the fourth NPL, called "Vela", was handed over to the customer on November 9 after the completion of the entire complex of mooring and sea trials, including tests of weapons and detection equipment. As expected, the submarine will be put into service "in the near future."
As reported by TSAMTO, the initial contracts with a total value of 187.98 billion. The Government of India signed with French and Indian companies within the framework of the "Project 75" in October 2005, providing for the construction of six Scorpen-class NAPS. The construction of submarines is carried out in accordance with the technology transfer agreement by Mazagon Dock Limited (now Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited) with the participation of the French Naval Group (formerly DCNS). The new NAPS will replace the obsolete Sindukush (Kilo) and Shishumar (Type 209/1500) class submarines.
In February 2010, along with the revision of the schedule of supplies of NAPL, the cost of the project was increased to 235.62 billion. rupees ($3.6 billion). The delivery schedule of the Scorpen submarines has been revised several times. The initial plan provided for the delivery of the first submarine in 2012, the remaining submarines were planned to be transferred at intervals of one year until 2017. At the moment, the deadline for the transfer of the last NPL has been postponed to the end of 2022 or the beginning of 2023.
The construction of the main NPL of the series began in December 2006. The Kalvari submarine was transferred to the Indian Navy on September 21 and entered the fleet on December 14, 2017 with a delay of almost 6 years. The second submarine of the series, the Khanderi, was adopted by the Indian Navy in September 2019, and the third, the Karanj, in March 2021.
The fourth and fifth submarines, Vela and Vagir, were launched in May 2019 and November 2020. The sixth Vagshir submarine is under construction and will probably be launched by the end of 2021. It is expected that all six Kalvari-class submarines will be put into service by the end of 2022 or early 2023.
The length of the Scorpen class is 67.6 m, width - 6.2 m, surface/underwater displacement - 1615/1775 tons. The submarine is armed with six 533-mm torpedo tubes and can use both torpedoes and anti-ship missiles SM-39 "Exocet" Block.2. Ammunition - 18 weapons (torpedoes, missiles, mines). The NAPL is equipped with four MTU 12V 396 SE84 diesel engines, develops a maximum speed of 20 knots underwater and 11 knots above water. The range of navigation in a surface position is 6,500 nautical miles at a speed of 8 knots. The crew is 31-36 people, including 6 officers.
