India’s third Scorpene-class submarine, Karanj, launched at Mazagon Dock, Mumbai.(<a href="https://twitter.com/indiannavy">@<b>indiannavy</b></a>/Twitter)
India’s third Scorpene-class submarine, Karanj, launched at Mazagon Dock, Mumbai.(@indiannavy/Twitter) 
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Karanj, Indian Navy’s Third Scorpene Class Submarine, Launched In Mumbai

BySwarajya Staff

The third Scorpene-class submarine built by the Mazagon Dock for the Indian Navy was launched in Mumbai earlier today, the Economic Times has reported.

Built in collaboration with the Naval Group of France, formerly called DCNS, will now undergo extensive sea trials before being inducted into the Indian Navy.

India is building a total of six submarines of the Scorpene-class. The first submarine of this class, INS Kalvari, was commissioned into the Indian Navy in December 2017 after extensive trials. It was the first conventional submarine inducted into the Indian Navy in over 17 years. The second Scorpene-class submarine, Khandari, was launched in January 2017 and is currently undergoing sea trials.

According to the Naval Group, the submarine of this class have superior stealth features such as advanced acoustic silencing techniques, low radiated noise levels and hydrodynamically optimised shape.

The deal for six Scorpene submarines was signed in 2005 and the first submarine of the class was to be delivered to the Indian Navy in 2012. However, inordinate delays and teething problems pushed the induction schedule off the track.

According to the reports, the submarines are likely to be commissioned without their primary weapon system, the Black Shark torpedo. The government had recently deferred a $200-million deal for Black Shark heavyweight torpedoes, built by Whitehead Alenia Systemi Subacquei, a subsidiary of Italian manufacturer Finmeccanica, due to corruption allegations on subsidiary AgustaWestland.

The Indian Navy needs more submarines to deal with the ever-growing Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean. India is currently looking to finalise an $8 billion contract to build six advanced conventional submarines with air-independent propulsion technology under the Project 75(i). It is also working on a number of projects to build an indigenous fleet of nuclear submarines.

Also Read: Wrapped In Secrecy: New Report Reveals India’s Push For Building A Nuclear Submarine Fleet