PM commissions India’s first Scorpene-class submarine

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has commissioned the Indian Navy’s first Scorpene-class submarine INS Kalvari in a ceremony at Mumbai.

The diesel-electric submarine Kalvari is the first in a fleet of six to be built by Indian shipbuilder Mazagon Dockyards.

Designed by French company Naval Group, the 67.5-metre LOA submarines are built in India under a transfer of technology agreement.

Her 360 battery cells (each weighing 750kg) power the permanently magnetised propulsion motor.

The boat is equipped with the “submarine tactical integrated combat system” (SUBTICS), sea-skimming Exocet missiles or the heavyweight wire guided surface and underwater target (SUT) torpedoes. Kalvari is also fitted with mobile C303/S anti-torpedo decoys.

The submarine is India’s first newbuild conventional submarine in 20 years.