Indian Navy’s First Scorpene Attack Submarine Starts Sea Trials

Kalvari, the Scorpene-class submarine being built for the Indian Navy, successfully embarked on its maiden sea trial on May 1, India’s defense ministry said Sunday.

Built by the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd Mumbai (MDL), the submarine sailed out at about 1000 hrs for the first sea trial, off the Mumbai coast and during the sortie, completed a number of preliminary tests on the propulsion system, Auxiliary Equipment and Systems, Navigation Aids, Communication Equipment and Steering gear.

During the next few months, the submarine will undergo a barrage of sea trials, including surface trials, diving trials, weapon trials, and noise trials. The submarine is expected to be commissioned into the Indian Navy as INS Kalvari later this year.

“Commissioning of Kalvari will be a re-affirmation of India’s capability to build submarines and a major boost for the ‘Make in India’ programme of the government,” the statement said.

The Scorpene-class submarines are a class of diesel-electric attack submarines being built at Mazagon dockyard in Mumbai, with technical assistance and equipment from French companies DCNS and Thales.

The state-of-art features of the Scorpene include superior stealth and the ability to launch a crippling attack on the enemy using precision guided weapons. The attack can be launched with torpedoes, as well as tube launched anti-ship missiles, whilst underwater or on surface.

The Scorpene Submarine is designed to operate in all theatres including the Tropics. All means and communications are provided to ensure interoperability with other components of a Naval Task Force. It is equipped with Weapons Launching Tubes (WLT), and can carry weapons on board which can be easily reloaded at sea, through special handling and loading equipment. The array of weapons and complex sensors fitted on board the Scorpene are managed by a high technology Combat Management System, which integrates various diverse systems fitted onboard into One Formidable Whole.