Indian Navy Launches INS Karanj, Third Scorpene-class Submarine

The Indian Navy launched the third Scorpene class submarine ‘Karanj’ at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai on Wednesday. 

"It (submarine) will undergo rigorous tests for the next one year before it is commissioned," Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba was quoted as saying by PTI on the occasion. 

The submarines, designed by French naval defence and energy company DCNS, are being built by Mazagon Dock Limited here as part of Project-75 of the Indian Navy. The shipyard will build six submarines.

The first one, INS Kalvari, was commissioned on December 14 last year. The second one, Khandari, has already been launched and is undergoing sea trials. The Scorpene submarines are a primary modernization requirement of the Indian Navy, which is currently faced with an ageing submarine fleet, and that too when the Chinese navy has a growing presence in the Indian Ocean.

According to MDL, the technology being used for construction of the Scorpene class submarines has ensured superior stealth features such as advanced acoustic silencing techniques, low radiated noise levels and hydrodynamically optimized shape. These stealth features give it an invulnerability, unmatched by most submarine.

Karanj, third in the Scropene series is designed to operate in all theatres, including the tropics. It is provided with all means and communications to ensure interoperability with other components of a naval task.