Having sailed out from Mumbai harbour for her maiden sea sortie, Khanderi, the second of the six Scorpene-class submarines being built at the Mazagon Dock Shipyard limited (MDl) here in collaboration with DCNS of France, has moved a significant step closer to her induction into the Indian Navy later this year.
In her first major trial for her propulsion plant, Khanderi sailed out on Thursday from Mumbai harbour for her maiden sea sortie. It was a very important milestone in the construction programme.
“The successful trial moved the submarine a significant step closer to her induction into the Indian Navy later this year. She will now be put through her paces via a rigorous set of trials, which are designed to test her operating envelop to the maximum,” a Navy spokesperson said here on Friday.
Earlier on January 12 this year, Khanderi had been launched at the MDl here, a launch that had paved the way for her sea trials.
Six Kalvari-class submarines are being built by the MDl in collaboration with Messrs DCNS of France. These submarines, post induction, would form the core of Navy’s conventional Submarine Arm.
The state-of-art features of the Scorpene-class submarines include superior stealth and the ability to launch a crippling attack on the enemy using precision guided weapons. The attack can be launched with torpedoes, as well as tube launched anti-ship missiles, whilst underwater or on surface. The stealth features will give it invulnerability, unmatched by many submarines.
They are designed to operate in all theatres including the tropics. All means and communications are provided to ensure interoperability with other components of a Naval Task Force.
Currently, the first Scorpene-class submarine ‘Kalvari’ is being readied for delivery in July or August this year, after having been put through a grueling set of trials over the past one year, including successful live missile and torpedo firings.
Named after ferocious deep sea predators, the Scorpenes, which operate very silently and are capable of multifarious roles, will add teeth to the might of the Indian Navy by strengthening it’s crucial Submarine Arm.