INS VELA, the fourth P75 KALVARI-class submarine for the Indian Navy, was commissioned yesterday. The vessel was built by the Indian shipyard Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) based on Naval Group’s SCORPENE design and is the second of the class to be commissioned in 2021, Naval Group writes in a press release.
Launched on 6 May 2019, INS VELA completed all major sea trials, including weapon and sensor tests, and was delivered to the Indian Navy on 9 November 2021. She joins INS KALVARI, KHANDERI and KARANJ, which were commissioned in December 2017, September 2019 and March 2021 respectively. INS VELA has been completely built by MDL taking advantage of technology transfer from Naval Group during the construction and trials of the first three boats.
Six submarines of the P75 programme have been fitted with equipment built in India by industrial Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises which form the sound base of the submarine building ecosystem of India, according to Naval Group.
JH
