The Navy on Monday (May 6) launched the Scorpene-class submarine Vela, the fourth of six underwater warships being built in India with French collaboration, with an aim to boost Indian capability to defend and secure the strategic sea lanes.
The Vela submarine will undergo a number of tests conducted by the Navy before it is commissioned in the defence fleet, an official said. Defence production secretary Ajay Kumar’s wife Veena Ajay Kumar launched the submarine at Mazagon Dockyard in Mumbai.
The state-owned Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) has entered into a contract for construction and transfer of technology for six Scorpene-class subs with French collaborator Ms Naval Group (formerly DCNS).
The fifth Scorpene-class submarine will be launched soon, an MDL official said. Before Vela, MDL launched Kalvari, Khanderi, Karanj submarines. While Kalvari has been commissioned, the others are at various levels of trials and tests.
INS Vela was first commissioned on August 31, 1973 in the Indian Naval Service and continued to serve for 37 years. It was country’s oldest submarine when it was decommissioned on June 25, 2010, MDL said in a statement.
MDL also recently reported an annual turnover of ₹4,500 crore, another official said.