Mumbai: INS Vagir, the fifth submarine of the Kalvari-class submarines, was commissioned into the Indian Navy on Monday, boosting the force’s prowess.
Built here by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited with technology transfer from France, INS Vagir was commissioned at a ceremony attended by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar.
“The submarine will enhance the Indian Navy’s capability to support Indian maritime interests in deterring the enemy and conducting Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) to deliver a decisive strike in times of crisis,” the Navy said.
“Vagir” means sand shark, representing stealth and fearlessness, two qualities synonymous with the submarine ethos.
Equipped with some of the best sensors in the world, its weapons package includes enough wire torpedoes and sub-surface missiles to neutralize a large enemy fleet, the Navy said.
The submarine also has the ability to launch naval commandos for special operations, while its powerful diesel engines can quickly charge batteries for a covert mission, the navy added.
It has a state-of-the-art torpedo decoy system for self-defense, the Navy added.
The commissioning of INS Vagir comes amid China’s growing naval presence in the Indian Ocean.