INS Vagir

• 13 Nov 2020

Why in News

Recently, the fifth Scorpene class submarine of Project-75 named ‘Vagir’ has been launched at Mazagon Dock in Mumbai.

Key Points

• INS Vagir:
  • Background:
    
    • The first Vagir, a submarine from Russia, was commissioned into Indian Navy on 3^rd December 1973 and was decommissioned on 7^th June 2001 after almost three decades of service to the nation.
    • Public shipbuilder Mazagon Dock Ltd (MDL) gave a new incarnation to the submarine with the same name.
  • It is named after the Sand Fish, a deadly deep sea predator of the Indian Ocean.
  • It is a part of the six Kalvari-class submarines being built in India.
  • The state-of-art technology used in the submarine has ensured:
    
    • Superior stealth features such as advanced acoustic absorption techniques, low radiated noise levels, and hydro-dynamically optimised shape.
    • The ability to attack the enemy using precision guided weapons.
  • The submarine is designed to operate in all theatres of operation, showcasing interoperability with other components of a Naval Task Force.
  • It can launch attacks with both torpedoes and tube launched anti-ship missiles, whilst underwater or on surface.
  • It can undertake multifarious types of missions i.e Anti-Surface warfare, Anti-Submarine warfare, Intelligence gathering, Mine Laying, Area Surveillance, etc.
• Project-75 :
  
  • It is a programme by the Indian Navy that entails building six Scorpene Class attack submarines.
    
    • Scorpene is a conventional powered submarine weighing 1,500 tonnes and can go up to depths of 300m.
  • It is given support by the Department of Defence Production (Ministry of Defence) and Indian Navy throughout its various phases of construction.
  • The 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.
• Other submarines of the ongoing Project-75:
  
  • Two submarines, Kalvari and Khanderi, have been commissioned into the Indian Navy.
  • The third submarine, Karanj, is in the last phase of rigorous sea trials.
  • The fourth Scorpene, Vela, has commenced its sea trials.
  • The sixth and last submarine, Vagsheer, is being readied for boot together.

Way Forward

With the launch of Vagir, India further cements its position as a Submarine Building Nation and MDL has more than lived up to its reputation as Warship and Submarine Builders to the Nation This is totally in sync with the current impetus of the Government towards Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Source:PIB