Second Scorpene class submarine Khanderi launched in Mumbai

INS Khanderi, the second of the Scorpene class submarine, was launched at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai on 12 January 2017. INS Khanderi was launched by Union Minister of State (MoS) for Defence Subhash Bhamre.

The submarine is named as INS Khanderi after the fort of Maratha forces that played a vital role in ensuring their supremacy at sea in the late 17th century. Khanderi is also the name for Tiger Shark. It will undergo trials before being inducted into the Indian Navy.

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INS Khanderi

• It is the second of the six submarines being built as part of Project 75 of Indian Navy. These submarines are being developed at MDL with M/s DCNS of France. INS Kalvari was the first Indian Scorpene which was launched in April 2015.

• The Kalvari class submarine is equipped with all means of communication to ensure interoperability with other components of a Naval Task Force.

• The submarine includes superior stealth, which may provide invulnerability to it.

• It is capable of launching a crippling attack on the enemy using precision guided weapons.

• It can undertake diverse types of missions including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, mine laying, intelligence gathering and area surveillance among others.

• It also carries the ability to launch attacks with torpedoes and tube-launched anti-ship missiles, while being on the surface or underwater.

• The submarine is designed to operate in all theatres, including the tropics.

Note: The submarine arm of the Indian Navy will complete 50years on 8 December 2017.