The Indian Navy is preparing to arm itself with a fifth Kalvari-type submarine. Today, February 4, the portal navalnews.com He reported that the submarine INS Vagir of the Scorpene class has begun sea trials.
The diesel-electric submarine INS Vagir was launched in November 2020. After completion afloat, the submarine went to sea trials, after which it can be accepted into the combat fleet.
INS Vagir submarine on sea trials
Image source: navalnews.com
A contract worth $3 billion for the licensed construction of six Scorpene-type non-nuclear submarines was signed by India with the French shipbuilding association DCN (now DCNS) in 2005. Under the terms of the contract, six boats, which were to be built at MDL factories with the assistance of DCNS, were planned to be delivered to the Indian Navy in 2012-2018. However, the construction program was significantly delayed due to the technological problems of the Indian side, as well as disagreements with the French regarding the volume of assistance provided.
The Scorpene-type submarines were designed by the French company DCNS for the needs of the French Navy, but after the French military abandoned diesel-electric submarines in favor of nuclear submarines, the project became an export one. Submarines of this type are built for the Navies of Chile, Malaysia, India and Brazil. The first Scorpene-type submarine for the Indian Navy was put into service in 2017.
