Khanderi , seen here during its launch ceremony in 2017. (Government of India)
India’s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) has delivered another licence-built Kalvari (Scorpène)-class diesel-electric submarine (SSK) to the Indian Navy.
The vessel, which will be in service as INS Khanderi once commissioned, was handed over on 19 September at a delivery ceremony in Mumbai.
Khanderi is the second of six boats ordered under an INR230 billion (USD3.2 billion) contract signed with Naval Group (then known as DCNS) in October 2005 under India's Project 75 submarine programme. The programme’s first-of-class, INS Kalvari , was commissioned in December 2017.
Khanderi was launched in January 2017 and was originally scheduled for commissioning in early 2018 after it took to the water. This has since been postponed to 28 September 2019, as reported by Jane’s earlier in the month citing senior Indian Navy officials.
The 66 m boat can accommodate a crew of 31 including six officers and can attain a top speed of 20 kt when dived. “The Scorpène class of submarines can undertake multifarious tasks typically undertaken by any modern submarine which include anti-surface as well as anti-submarine warfare”, said India’s Ministry of Defence in a statement on the delivery.
The programme’s third-of-class, Karanj , was launched in January 2018 and is undergoing sea trials. Meanwhile the fourth submarine, Vela , was launched in May 2019 and is being prepared for its sea trials, the ministry added. Two remaining boats are in various states of construction at MDL.
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