SUBMARINE ‘VELA’

• 10 Nov 2021

Why in News

Recently, the fourth Scorpene Submarine ‘INS Vela’ of Project P-75 has been delivered to the Indian Navy.

Key Points

• Scorpene Class Submarine:
  
  • The submarines in the Project-75 Scorpene Class are powered by diesel-electric propulsion systems.
  • Scorpene is one of the most sophisticated submarines, capable of undertaking multifarious missions including anti-surface ship warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying, and area surveillance.
  • The Scorpene class is the Navy’s first modern conventional submarine series in almost two decades since INS Sindhushastra, procured from Russia in July 2000.
• Project 75:
  
  • It is a programme by the Indian Navy that entails building six Scorpene Class attack submarines.
    
    • The design of the Kalvari class of submarines is based on the French Scorpene class of submarines.
  • It is given support by the Department of Defence Production (Ministry of Defence) and Indian Navy throughout its various phases of construction.
  • The Mazagon Dock limited (MDL) is manufacturing six Scorpene submarines with technology assistance from Naval Group of France under a USD 3.75 bn deal signed in October 2005.
    
    • MDL is a defence public sector undertaking shipyard under the Ministry of Defence.
  • Other Submarines under Project-75:
    
    • Two submarines, Kalvari and Khanderi, have been commissioned into the Indian Navy.
    • The Scorpene ‘Vagir’ is under trials.
    • The sixth one, INS Vagsheer, is under construction.

Source: PIB