The state-owned Mazagon Dockyards Limited has made a submission to the Defence Ministry’s tender for the development of three new Kalvari class submarines for the Indian Navy. Senior defence officials told that the defence Ministry has received the PSU’s bids for the massive project, which will be developed in Mumbai with French company Naval Group as a partner.
Five of the six Kalvari class, also called Scorpene class, submarines that India ordered from France in 2005 have already been entered service, and the sixth is probably going to be inducted the following year. During a July meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council, the government approved Project 75 Additional Submarines and 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets.
According to the Navy, the submarines have performed up to par, and the force is waiting for the induction of the submarines as soon as possible. According to the sources, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar has also directed officials to shorten the timeline for completing the formalities for starting the building of the boats in the Indian shipyard.
Five of the six Scorpene submarines that the MDL has already built are currently in service. Early in 2024 is most likely when the sixth one is put into service. INS Vagir, the fifth stealth submarine of the Scorpene class, was brought into service by the Indian Navy in January of this year. The Kalvari class submarines are very powerful vessels with sophisticated stealth features and anti-ship missiles and long-range guided torpedoes installed.
