INS Vagir, fifth Scorpene submarine, commissioned

Source: The post is based on the article “INS Vagir, fifth Scorpene submarine, commissioned” published in The Hindu on 24th January 2023.

What is the News?

The fifth Scorpene class conventional submarine “INS Vagir” was commissioned into the Indian Navy.

What is INS Vagir?

INS Vagir is the fifth diesel-electric Kalvari-class submarine. 

It is among the six submarines being built by the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai in collaboration with the French M/s Naval Group under Project 75. 

Four of these submarines (INS Kalvari, INS Khanderi, INS Karanj, INS Vela) have already been commissioned into the Navy and a sixth (INS Vagsheer) will be commissioned next year.

What are the key features of INS Vagir?

Kalvari class of submarines have Diesel Electric transmission systems and these are primarily attack submarines or ‘hunter-killer’ types which mean they are designed to target and sink adversary naval vessels.

They have an estimated endurance of approximately 50 days. They also have the capability of operating in a wide range of Naval combat including anti-warship and anti-submarine operations, intelligence gathering and surveillance and naval mine laying. 

These submarines are around 220 feet long and have a height of 40 feet. It can reach the highest speeds of 11 knots (20 km/h) when surfaced and 20 knots (37 km/h) when submerged.

What is the significance of induction of INS Vagir? 

India currently operates a group of nuclear-powered submarines and diesel-electric submarines.

As per naval warfare principles, for India to create a strategic deterrence, there is a specific number of submarines of both types that India needs to have in active service.

These submarines have their designated roles in the Carrier Battle Groups, which are formations of ships and submarines with Aircraft Carriers in the lead role.

However, currently, India has a less-than-ideal number of submarines, with many new ones being at various stages of construction.

With the latest induction of INS Vagir, India now has 16 conventional submarines and a nuclear submarine in service.