Vagir during its sea sortie.
History
India
NameINS Vagir
NamesakeVagir (S41)
Ordered2005
BuilderMazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai
Launched12 November 2020[1]
Acquired20 December 2022
Commissioned23 January 2023[2]
Statusin active service
General characteristics
Class and typeKalvari-class submarine
Displacement
  • Surfaced: 1,615 tonnes (1,589 long tons)
  • Submerged: 1,775 tonnes (1,747 long tons)[6]
Length67.5 m (221 ft 5 in)[4]
Beam6.2 m (20 ft 4 in)[3]
Height12.3 m (40 ft 4 in)[4]
Draught5.8 m (19 ft 0 in)[3]
Propulsion
Speed
  • Surfaced: 11 kn (20 km/h)
  • Submerged: 20 kn (37 km/h)[3]
Range
  • 6,500 nmi (12,000 km) at 8 kn (15 km/h) (surfaced)
  • 550 nmi (1,020 km) at 4 kn (7.4 km/h) (submerged)[5]
Endurance50 days[8]
Test depth350 metres (1,150 ft) [9]
Complement
  • 8 officers
  • 35 sailors[7]
Electronic warfare
& decoys		C303/S anti-torpedo countermeasure system[12]
Armament

INS Vagir (S25) is the fifth submarine of the first batch of six Kalvari-class submarines for the Indian Navy. It is a diesel-electric attack submarine based on the Scorpène class, designed by French naval defence and energy group Naval Group and manufactured by Mazagon Dock Limited, an Indian shipyard in Mumbai, Maharashtra.[13]

History and construction

The ship was launched on 12 November 2020.[14][1][15]

The submarine inherits its name from INS Vagir (S41) which served in the Navy from 1973–2001, and was named after a species of sandfish.[16][17]

Vagir, the fifth submarine in the Kalvari -class, started its maiden sea trials on 2 February 2022. The ship was commissioned on 23 January 2023.[18]

Operational history

Vagir was deployed on an extended patrol in the Indian Ocean, and it first reached the Sri Lankan port of Colombo on 19 June 2023. Later it covered nearly 7000 kilometres to reach Fremantle, Australia on 20 August 2023.[19][20] This is the first time an Indian Scorpene submarine was on such a long deployment.[21]

Gallery

  • Vagir
  • Launch of Vagir at Mazgaon Docks.
    Launch of Vagir at Mazgaon Docks.
  • Vagir submarine during its maiden sea trials.
    Vagir submarine during its maiden sea trials.
  • Vagir (S25) during its maiden sea trials
    Vagir (S25) during its maiden sea trials
  • Vagir (S25) submarine during its maiden sea sortie.
    Vagir (S25) submarine during its maiden sea sortie.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Indian Navy gets fifth Scorpene-class submarine 'INS Vagir'". www.timesnownews.com. 12 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  2. ^ "Commissioning of Vagir marks a milestone in Indian Navy's evolution as a combat-ready & credible force: Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar". newsonair.gov. 23 January 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d Rahmat, Ridzwan (7 June 2017). "India's second Scorpène submarine begins sea trials". Jane's Defence Weekly. Archived from the original on 28 December 2017.
  4. ^ a b c "Curtain Raiser : Kalvari to be Commissioned Tomorrow at Mumbai". pib.nic.in. 13 December 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  5. ^ Commodore Stephen Saunders, ed. (2005). "India". Jane's Fighting Ships 2005-2006 (108th ed.). Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group. p. 308. ISBN 0710626924.
  6. ^ Bedi, Rahul (14 December 2017). "Indian Navy commissions first licence-built Scorpène-class submarine". Jane's Defence Weekly. Archived from the original on 28 December 2017.
  7. ^ "Road to development in the 21st century goes through the Indian ocean – Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister". pib.nic.in. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  8. ^ "India, France to ink Scorpene deal". The Times of India. PTI. 27 September 2005.
  9. ^ "Scorpene 1000". DCNS. Archived from the original on 15 September 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  10. ^ Bonsignore, Luca (2005). ""Carrera": The first real Spanish export-submarine floated". Naval Forces. Vol. 26, no. 1. Aldershot: Monch Publications. p. 135. ISSN 0722-8880. 18 torpedoes and missiles can be carried otherwise 30 mines.
  11. ^ Dominguez, Gabriel (22 September 2017). "MDL delivers first of six Scorpène-class submarines to Indian Navy". Jane's Defence Weekly. Archived from the original on 28 December 2017.
  12. ^ Bedi, Rahul (31 January 2018). "India launches third Scorpène-class submarine". Jane's Defence Weekly. Archived from the original on 5 February 2018.
  13. ^ "Fifth-generation Indian Navy Scorpene 'Vagir' put to trial, know why it is so special". DNA India. 12 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  14. ^ Desk, India com News (12 November 2020). "Indian Navy's Fifth Scorpene-Class Submarine INS Vagir Launched". India News, Breaking News, Entertainment News | India.com. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  15. ^ "Indian Navy's fifth Scorpene class submarine Vagir launched at Mazagon Dock". New Indian Express. 12 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  16. ^ "Explained: India's Kalvari class of submarines, and its strategic significance". The Indian Express. 19 November 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  17. ^ "Indian Navy's Scorpene class submarine Vagir with superior stealth features launched - Scorpene-class submarine". The Economic Times. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  18. ^ "INS Vagir, 5th submarine of Kalvari class, commissioned into Indian Navy". www.hindustantimes.com. 23 January 2023.
  19. ^ "INS VAGIR ON AN EXTENDED RANGE DEPLOYMENT TO FREMANTLE, AUSTRALIA". PIB (Press release). 19 August 2023.
  20. ^ "Indian naval submarine and Pakistani ship visit Sri Lanka at same time". PIB. 19 June 2023.
  21. ^ Philip, Snehesh Alex (19 August 2023). "India's Scorpene submarine carries out its longest deployment, travels 7,000 kms to Australia". ThePrint. Retrieved 2 September 2023.


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