PROJECT 75
- Six Scorpene-class submarines are currently being built under ‘Project 75’ of the Indian Navy
- The submarines, designed by French firm Naval Group are being built by Mazagon Dock Limited in Mumbai
- First of these, INS Kalvari was commissioned in 2017, second INS Khanderi in 2019, third INS Karanj in 2020
- Recently, 4th submarine INS Vela was commissioned at the Indian Navy’s Western Command, Mumbai (Vela is named after a type of Indian fish belonging to the stingray family)
- INS Vela is equipped with C303 antitorpedo countermeasure system, and can carry up to 18 torpedoes or Exocet anti-ship missiles or 30 mines in place of torpedoes
- With this, the Navy currently has 16 conventional and one nuclear submarine in service
- INS Vagir and INS Vagsheer (5th and 6th Submarine) are under trial and development phases.