Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) has delivered the fourth Scorpene-class submarine of Project 75, Yard 11878 to the Indian Navy.
The submarine will soon be commissioned as INS Vela and will further strengthen the service’s defence capabilities.
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P-75 Kalvari-class programme involves the construction of six submarines of Scorpene design. The boats are being built by MDL in Mumbai through a transfer of technology from France’s Naval Group.
The project in line with the Indian Government’s ‘Make in India’ policy.
Vela was launched in May 2019 and has since completed all key harbour and sea trials amidst Covid-related restrictions.
The Indian Ministry of Defence (MOD) said in a statement: “Submarine construction is an intricate activity as the difficulty is compounded when all equipment is required to be miniaturised and are subject to stringent quality requirements. Construction of these submarines in an Indian yard is yet another step towards ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat’.”
Last year, the fifth vessel Vagir was launched. It was ordered in 2005.
In July, India issued a request of proposal (RFP) for P-75(I) for the construction of six submarines.
The RFP was issued to MDL and Larsen & Tubro (L&T).
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), Indian MOD’s highest decision-making body on procurement, approved the issuance of RFP in June this year, commencing the project.
The project, a follow-on of the Project 75, was approved to be built at a cost of around $5.88bn (Rs430bn).
