New Delhi : The Indian Navy’s underwater combat arm received a tremendous boost from the arrival of INS Vagir, a French Scorpene Class Submarine built under Project-75B on Tuesday. The induction of this submarine came at a time when the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) was conducting multiple forays in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
The premier Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU) of India, Mazagaon Docks Limited, and the private organisation Larsen and Toubro (L&T) deserve the utmost credit for developing this wonderous weapon platform.
Under Project 75 B, the Indian Defence Industry, in collaboration with the French organisation Naval Group has signed a contract which involves the building of six submarines. The five submarines are INS Kalvari, INS Khanderi, INS Karanj, INS Vela, INS Vagir. The sixth and last submarine INS Vagsheer will be delivered next year.
Scorpene Submarines have built-in advanced Stealth Features like advanced acoustic absorption techniques and low radiated noise levels. They are equipped with long-range guided Torpedoes and tube-launched anti-ship missiles. It also has advanced sensors and sonar equipment.
Akin to its fellow submarines under Scorpene-Class, INS Vagir is a versatile and powerful asset in possession of the Indian Navy. It has an AIP (Independent Air Propulsion System).
The Indian Navy is grappling with and suffering a shortage of submarines. It just has six Russian and four German submarines. It has only one nuclear submarine INS Arihant. The next SSBN (Nuclear Submarine) is INS Arighat, which will be joining much later.
The PLAN has sent eight Yuan class Submarines to Pakistan that operate on the principle of an Independent Air Propulsion System.
The Indian Navy requires 18 more conventional submarines, four SSBNs (Nuclear propelled submarines with nuclear-tipped missiles) and six nuclear-powered attack submarines to give a befitting reply to the China-Pakistan Maritime collusive threat.
The Chinese Navy is the world’s most significant naval force, surpassing the US Navy. It has many vessels and submarines at its disposal, which vastly outnumber those of the Indian Navy.
According to a Navy officer, it is a matter of great pride that it has quickly completed all its tests and trials.
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