Indian Navy Launches Fourth Stealth Scorpene-Class Submarine Vela in Mumbai – Here’s All You Need to Know

The Scorpène-class submarine comes with a diesel propulsion feature and also air-independent propulsion (AIP). This will provide a boost to the underwater capability of the Indian Navy.

Mumbai: The Indian Navy launched the fourth stealth Scorpene-class Submarine Vela of Project 75 on Monday at the Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) in Maharashtra’s capital city, stated news agency ANI.

With the launch of INS Vela, the Indian Navy’s underwater capability will receive a boost, stated officials. The submarine is the fourth of the six submarines of Scorpene class that has completed its out fittings at Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) in Mumbai. The remaining two submarines that are in the advanced stages of manufacturing are Vagir and Vagsheer.

The features of the Scorpène-class submarine includes diesel propulsion apart from air-independent propulsion (AIP). This class of diesel-electric attack submarines is developed by the French Direction des Constructions Navales (DCN), Spanish company Navantia and the Naval Group.

Notably, a contract was signed in 2005 between French DCNS and Mazgaon Dock Limited under Indian Navy’s Project-75 for the supply of six submarines. The first submarine INS Kalvari was commissioned in December 2018 while two other submarines namely INS Khanderi and INS Karanj are in the advanced stages to join the Navy fleet.

(With agency inputs)