New Delhi: The Indian Navy is set to commission the fifth Kalvari class submarine 'Vagir' on January 23, officials said. Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar will be the Chief Guest at the ceremony. Ahead of the event, Commanding Officer Cdr Divakar S called it a big step towards becoming Atmanirbhar Bharat. He also said that 'Vagir' will be ready to meet all the requirements of the Navy and the country.
"INS Vagir can be deployed both closer to the shore as well as mod-ocean. It will be ready to meet all the requirements of the Navy and the country. It is a big step towards becoming Atmanirbhar Bharat. This is the fifth Kalvari class submarine," Cdr Divakar S, Commanding Officer was quoted by the news agency ANI as saying.
"It is a matter of pride that the construction of Vagir has been completely done by MDL (Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited) and it was overseen by Indian Navy. Most of the trials were undertaken by the Navy & MDL together," he added.
These submarines are being built in India by the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) Mumbai, under the collaboration with M/s Naval Group, France. Four of the Kalvari class of submarines have already been commissioned into the Indian Navy.
Built under the Project-75, the commissioning of the submarine will boost the Navy's combat capability, especially at a time when China has been stepping up its presence in the Indian Ocean region. The Project-75 includes indigenous construction of six submarines of Scorpene design.
Notably, the erstwhile Vagir was commissioned on Nov 1 in the year 1973 and undertook numerous operational missions, including deterrent patrols. The submarine was decommissioned on Jan 7 in 2001 after serving India for about three decades.
"Launched and named 'Vagir' on November 12, 2020, the submarine in its new avatar has the distinction of having the lowest build time among all indigenously manufactured submarines till date," news agency PTI quoted an official as saying.
“She undertook her maiden sea sortie in Feb 22, marking the commencement of sea trials and has gone through a series of comprehensive acceptance checks and, stringent and demanding sea trials prior being commissioned,” the official added.
The submarine was delivered to the Indian Navy by the MDL on December 20.
Notably, Vagir will bolster the Indian Navy’s capability to further India’s maritime interests, and is capable of undertaking diverse missions, including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying and surveillance missions.
It is to be noted that the induction of Vagir is another step of the Indian Navy consolidating its position as a builder’s Navy, as also reflects MDL’s capabilities as a premier ship and submarine building yard.