India's First Scorpene Submarine INS Kalvari launched for sea trials

 

The diesel-electric powered Scorpene submarine to be called INS Kalvari after commissioning will undergo extensive sea trials before it is cleared to formally join the Indian Navy

The first of six French-designed Scorpene submarines which are being manufactured in Mumbai, was launched into the water today, initiating the process for extensive trials.

The diesel-electric submarines are being built at the state-run Mazgaon docks in Mumbai; they are expected to be inducted into the Navy by 2018, about four years later than planned

The project has also over-shot the budget by nearly Rs. 5,000 crore and is expected to cost about Rs. 23,000 crore. "One (Scorpene) submarine will be delivered every nine months," said Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. 

 

To replace a nearly 30-year-old fleet hit by a run of accidents, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has ordered an accelerated tendering process to build six conventional diesel-electric submarines at an estimated cost of Rs. 50,000 crore ($8.1 billion), in addition to the Scorpenes that the French firm DCNS is assembling at the Mumbai port.
India is building six Scorpene submarines with the help of French firm DCNS at Mazagon Dock Limited(MDL)

Note

The country's first indigenously built nuclear submarine, INS Arihant - loaded with nuclear-tipped missiles and headed for sea trials in Dec 2014