JOIN US Khanderi, the second of the Indian Navy’s Scorpene class stealth submarines, was launched into the Arabian Sea on Thursday, paving the way for its sea trials.
Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre launched Khanderi in the presence of Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba and a host of dignitaries at the Mazagon Dock Shipyard Limited (MDL).
It is the second of the Kalvari-class submarines that are being built in India. Six submarines (Scorpene-class or Kalvari-class) are being built at MDL in collaboration with DCNS of France, as part of Project 75 of the Indian Navy.
Khanderi is expected to be delivered to the navy by the year end. It has been christened after its illustrious predecessor, an erstwhile ‘Foxtrot’ class submarine decommissioned in 1989, as per the traditions of the navy.
The first of the Scorpene class submarines, Kalvari is presently undergoing sea trials, and is likely to be commissioned into the navy by mid-2017. These submarines, post induction, would form the core of the navy’s conventional submarine arm.
Speaking on the occasion, Bhamre said Project 75 Kalvari is a milestone in self-reliance and indigenisation for the country.
Admiral Lanba said that Khanderi is compared with the best in the world, and this speaks highly of the experience and expertise our shipbuilders have gained over the years.
As the Indian Navy celebrates the golden jubilee of the submarine arm in 2017, the induction of Project 75 submarines would mark the beginning of a new chapter in our submarine capabilities, he said.
The launching of Khanderi also marks a critical milestone for the shipyard, which has delivered two Shishumar class submarines in the 90s and has now strengthened its position as a submarine-building yard for the navy.