India launches its second Scorpène-class submarine ‘Khanderi’

Indian Navy today has launched the country’s second Scorpène-class diesel-electric attack submarine in Mumbai.

The submarine’s launching ceremony was held at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in Mumbai this morning by separating it from the pontoon on which it was assembled, NDTV reports.

Union Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba attended the ceremony.

The submarine is scheduled to undergo rigorous trials and tests both at harbor and at sea till December this year, and then it will be commissioned in the Indian Navy as ‘INS Khanderi’, NDTV reports quoting the Indian Navy.

‘Khanderi’ is named after a Maratha island fort which played a vital role in ensuring the supremacy of the Maratha forces at sea in the late 17th century.

India is building six French-designed Scorpène-class submarines in collaboration with France's Direction des Constructions Navales (DCN) in a three-billion-dollar project at the Mazagon Docks.

The first of the lot, named ‘Kalvari’ has already been launched and is currently completing sea trials. It will be commissioned shortly, the Indian Navy said.

At present, the Indian Navy operates 13 conventionally powered submarines and two nuclear submarines, reports NDTV.

The newly launched submarine reportedly has superior stealth features that give the vessel an invulnerability that is unmatched by most other submarines. It is also capable of launching a crippling attack on the enemy with torpedoes and tube-launched anti-ship missiles both under water or on surface.

The submarine can be used for anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying and area surveillance. It can operate in all theatres, including the tropics.

Indian Navy will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its submarine arm on December 8 this year. On this day in 1967, the country’s first submarine, the INS Kalvari, was inducted into the navy, reports NDTV.

India is among a few countries in the world which produce conventional submarines. It joined an exclusive group of countries that build submarines in February 1992, when the first Indian-built submarine, INS Shalki, was commissioned.