India’s Second Scorpene Submarine “Khanderi” Launched
- INS Khanderi, second of the Scorpene class submarine, was launched in Mumbai on Thursday.
- The submarine, which was launched at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), will undergo trials before being inducted in the Indian Navy.
- The state-of-the-art features of this Scorpene class submarine include superior stealth and the ability to launch an attack on the enemy using a precision guided weapon.
- The attack can be launched with torpedoes, as well as tube-launched anti-ship missiles, while underwater or on the surface.
- The submarine is designed to operate in all theatres, including the tropics. All means of communications are provided to ensure interoperability with other components of a Naval task force.
- It can undertake multifarious types of missions typically undertaken by any modern submarine, such as anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying, area surveillance and the like.
- The government is looking to bolster the country’s naval fleet to counter what is being viewed as increasing activities of China in the Indian Ocean and Pakistan’s attempts to acquire a nuclear-powered submarine from the Communist neighbour.
- Khanderi is among six submarines being built at Mazagon docks in collaboration with a French company, DCNS.
- The first one, Kalvari, is completing sea trials and will be commissioned shortly into the Indian Navy,
- Khanderi is named after an island fort of the Marathas which played a vital role in ensuring their supremacy at sea in the late 17th century.
- As a tradition, navy ships and submarines are brought “alive” after decommissioning.
- The first Khanderi was commissioned into the navy 1968 and decommissioned after more than 20 years.
- Defence officials said Khanderi uses precision-guided weapons including torpedoes as well as tube-launched anti-ship missiles, which can be launched underwater or on surface.
- The submarine can undertake multifarious types of missions such as anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying and area surveillance, the officials added.
- India joined an exclusive group of submarine constructing nations on February 7, 1992, with the commissioning of the first Indian-built submarine, INS Shalki.
