Photo: MDL officials hand over the delivery documents of fourth Scorpene submarine, Vela, to Indian Navy officials.
Mumbai: India’s navy today got delivery of its fourth Scorpenesubmarine from the state-run shipbuilder Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), adding more teeth to its underwater fighting capabilities to meet the challenges posed by Chinese warships and submarines in the Indian Ocean Region.
The submarine, built as the Indian Navy’s Project-75 or P75 by MDL with technology transfer and in collaboration France’s Naval Group, will be commissioned as INS Vela soon.
File Photo: Vela, the fourth Scorpene submarine produced by Mumbai-based MDL.
The submarine was launched on May 6, 2019, and has completed all major harbour trials and sea trials including weapons and sensors despite COVID-19 restrictions, a Ministry of Defence statement said. Three of these submarines are already in commission with the Indian Navy.
“Submarine construction is an intricate activity, as the difficulty is compounded when all equipment are required to be miniaturised and are subject to stringent quality requirements. Construction of these submarines in an Indian yard is yet another step towards ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ or ‘Self-Reliant India’ call of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
