Unveiling INS Vela: India’s Homegrown Powerhouse Submarine Joins the Fleet
On 25th November 2021, INS Vela, the fourth P75 Kalvari-class submarine, was inaugurated into the Indian Navy in the presence of Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) Chairman & Managing Director, Vice Admiral Narayan Prasad (Retd.) along with various esteemed guests. The ceremony was also graced by Naval Group’s Executive Vice President for International Development, Mr. Alain Guillou and the regional teams.
INS Vela has been constructed by the Indian shipyard MDL, based on the Naval Group Scorpene® framework, and is the second Kalvari-class submarine to be commissioned in 2021.
Launched on 6th May 2019, INS Vela successfully carried out all primary sea evaluations including weapon and sensor assessments, despite the challenges posed by Covid restrictions, and was formally delivered to the Indian Navy on 9th November 2021. She joins INS Kalvari, Khanderi, and Karanj which were commissioned in December 2017, September 2019, and March 2021, respectively.
The commissioning of INS Vela signifies the achievements of the indigenous submarine construction initiative by the Government of India. This submarine has been entirely manufactured by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), leveraging the fruitful technology transfer from Naval Group during the development and testing phases of the first three vessels. Six submarines under the P75 program have been equipped with various systems, produced in India by skilled and highly qualified Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), forming a robust foundation for India’s submarine building ecosystem.
Alain Guillou, EVP International Development at Naval Group, remarked: “I want to extend my congratulations to our partner MDL and the teams at Naval Group for the successful delivery of the fourth Scorpene® submarine to the Indian Navy. Naval Group is extremely proud to be involved in the P75 Kalvari initiative, which is a vital element of the enduring Indo-French collaboration. We are devoted to significantly enhancing the level of localization in future Indian Navy projects by cultivating and leveraging expertise and skills within India.”
The enhancement of capabilities that the Indian industry and shipyard have attained over the last decade is quite remarkable. This invaluable and high-value expertise and skill sets developed around the program must be preserved, cultivated, and advanced with current and forthcoming contracts so that the Indian naval defense industry can effectively address military products of similar or advanced nature for India and also for global markets.
The Scorpene®, a contemporary, high-performance, and stealthy submarine
The Scorpene® is a 2000-ton conventional-propulsion submarine designed and developed by Naval Group for various missions, including surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, long-range strikes, special operations, or intelligence collection. Incredibly stealthy and swift, it features an operational automation level that facilitates a limited crew, substantially reducing operational expenses. Its combat superiority is underscored by its capacity for 6 weapon launching tubes, accommodating 18 weapons (torpedoes, missiles, mines).
With 14 submarines selected globally, the Scorpene® stands as a prominent choice for conventional attack submarines (SSK) for Navies worldwide. The design easily adapts to the specific needs of any naval clientele. The continuous advancements by Naval Group’s dedicated and experienced designers guarantee the seamless incorporation of state-of-the-art technologies.
