Topics Covered: Indigenization of technology.
Kalvari class of submarines:
Context:
Indian Navy’s fifth Kalvari-class Diesel Electric attack submarine INS Vagir was launched recently at Mazgaon Dock in Mumbai.
- The other vessels in the class are INS Kalvari, INS Khanderi, INS Karanj, INS Vela and INS Vagsheer.
About Kalvari Class of submarines:
This class of submarines have Diesel Electric transmission systems and these are primarily attack submarines or ‘hunter-killer’ type which means they are designed to target and sink adversary naval vessels.
- They can be used in anti-warship and anti-submarine operations, intelligence gathering and surveillance and naval mine laying.
- These submarines are built under Project 75 and their design is based on the Scorpene class of the submarines.
- Being constructed by the public sector shipbuilder Mazagon Dock Ltd (MDL) in Mumbai.
- Design is based on Scorpene class of submarines designed and developed by French defence major Naval Group formerly DCNS and Spanish state owned entity Navantia.
(Note: In maritime parlance a class of ships is a group of vessels which have the same make, purpose and displacement).
Facts for Prelims:
(Just have a brief overview of these facts)
Origins of the names of ships mentioned above:
- Kalvari – means Tiger Shark.
- Vagir has been named after a Sand Fish, a predatory marine species.
- Khanderi has been named after an Island Fort built by Chhatrapati Shivaji, which played a key role in his Navy.
- Karanj has also been named after an Island located South of Mumbai.
India’s submarine fleet:
India currently operates one submarine each in nuclear powered Classes of Chakra and Arihant and in addition to 14 submarines belonging to three classes of Diesel Electric category — Kalvari, Shishumar and Sindhughosh.
Sources: Indian Express.
