The Indian Navy’s sixth and final Kalvari class submarine, Vaghsheer, has begun its sea trials and is expected to be commissioned into the force by early next year.

The commissioning of the submarine, built under Project-75, is set to enhance the Navy’s combat capability.

Project–75

• Project–75 includes construction of six submarines of Scorpene design. These submarines are being constructed at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) Mumbai, under collaboration with M/s Naval Group, France.

• These submarines can undertake missions like anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying, and area surveillance. The attack can be launched with both torpedoes and tube launched anti-ship missiles, whilst underwater or on surface.

• Five of these submarines — Kalvari, Khanderi, Karanj, Vela and Vagir — have already been commissioned. INS Kalvari commissioned in December 2017. INS Khanderi was commissioned in September 2019. INS Karanj was commissioned in March 2021. INS Vela was commissioned in November, 2021. INS Vagir, the fifth submarine of the Kalvari Class submarines, was commissioned into the Indian Navy on January 23, 2023.

• Vagsheer, the sixth and the last Scorpene-class submarine constructed under Project-75 of the Indian Navy, was launched on April 20, 2022. Vagsheer will undergo a comprehensive and rigorous set of tests and trials for more than a year to ensure that it is fully combat-worthy.

Why is it named Vagsheer?

• Named after sandfish, a deadly deep water sea predator of the Indian Ocean, the first submarine ‘Vagsheer’ was commissioned in December 1974 and decommissioned in April 1997. 

• The new submarine is the incarnation of its earlier version, as according to naval parlance a ship never ceases to exist. 

• Even after a ship/submarine is decommissioned, a new ship/submarine replaces the old one with the same name.

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