The second of the Scorpene class submarine INS Khanderi was launched at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai on Thursday. The submarine will go through trials before being inducted in the Indian Navy. Union Minister of State (MoS) for Defence Subhash Bhamre attended the event along with his wife to launch the submarine.
Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba also grace the event with his presence. Here are 10 features you need to know about Scorpene class submarine INS Khanderi:
- INS Khanderi has superior stealth and the capability to launch the crippling attack on the opponent using precision guided weapons.
- The stealth unique features, which lacks in many submarines, give the submarine invulnerability.
- INS Khanderi is built to function in all theaters, including the tropics.
- All means and communications are installed to ensure interoperability with other mechanism of a Naval Task Force.
- Various types of missions including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying, area surveillance and others can be undertaken by the submarine.
- The submarine also has a capacity to launch attacks with torpedoes, plus tube-launched anti-ship missiles, whilst underwater or on a surface.
- INS Khanderi is named after the Island fort of Maratha forces that played an essential role in ensuring domination at sea in the late 17th century.
- Khanderi is the second of the six submarines being built at MDL in association with M/s DCNS of France. Kalvari, which is currently carrying out sea trials, is the first one.
- As per defense officials, Kalvari will soon be commissioned into the Indian Navy as the Indian Navy’s submarine arm will be finishing 50 years this year.
- The assembling of the submarine was a complex assignment and involved arranging different parts and laying kilometers of wiring and piping in tremendously congested compartments.
