Fourth Scorpene Submarine ‘INS Vela’ delivered to the Indian Navy

Context

Recently, the fourth Scorpene Submarine ‘INS Vela’ of Project P-75 has been delivered to the Indian Navy.

About Scorpene Class Submarine

• The submarines in the Project-75 Scorpene-Class are powered by diesel-electric propulsion systems.
• Scorpene is one of the most sophisticated submarines, capable of undertaking multifarious missions including anti-surface ship warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying, and area surveillance.
• The Scorpene-class is the Navy’s first modern conventional submarine series in almost two decades since INS Sindhushastra, procured from Russia in July 2000.

What is project-75?

• It is a programme by the Indian Navy that entails building six Scorpene-Class attack submarines.
• The design of the Kalvari class of submarines is based on the French Scorpene class of submarines.
• It is given support by the Department of Defence Production (Ministry of Defence) and the Indian Navy throughout its various phases of construction.
• The Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) is manufacturing six Scorpene submarines with technical assistance from the Naval Group of France under a USD 3.75 bn deal signed in October 2005.
• MDL is a defence public sector undertaking shipyard under the Ministry of Defence.