SUBMARINE ‘VELA’ | 10 Nov 2021

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

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.