INS Vagir Commissioned into Indian Navy

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in news?
• What is The P-75 project?
• What is the first phase of P-75?
• What is the second phase of P-75?
• News Summary: INS Vagir commissioned into Indian Navy
• What are the features of Vagir?
• What is the strategic importance of the induction of INS Vagir in Indian Navy?

 

Why in news?

• INS Vagir, the fifth stealth Scorpene-class Submarine, was commissioned into the Navy.
• Vagir was launched in November 2020, under Project 75 (P-75) and was delivered to Navy on December 20, 2022 after completion of sea trials.

 

What is The P-75 project?

• In June 1999, the Cabinet Committee on Security had approved a plan for the Indian Navy to induct indigenously build and induct submarines by 2030. 
• It was broken down in two phases — the P-75 and P-75I.

 

What is the first phase of P-75?

• Under the first phase of P-75, signed in 2005, India and France signed a $3.75 billion contract for building six Scorpene class submarines. 
• The executing company on the Indian side was Mazgaon Docks Ltd, and on the French side, it was DCNS, which is now called Naval Group.
• Under this project, the first submarine was commissioned in December 2017. 
• Subsequently, the other five have been built and on 20 April, 2022 INS Vagsheer was launched and would be commissioned by 2023.

 

What is the second phase of P-75?

• The P-75I phase envisages the construction of six conventional submarines with better sensors and weapons and the Air Independent Propulsion System (AIP).
• Defence Acquisition Council cleared the project in 2019 under the strategic partnership (SP) model.
  • The Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced in 2017 the much-anticipated SP model for the Indian private sector. 
    • This was announced to promote Make in India in defence manufacturing
  • SP model seeks to identify a few Indian private companies as Strategic Partners who would initially tie up with a few shortlisted foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to manufacture big-ticket military platforms.

 

News Summary: INS Vagir commissioned into Indian Navy

• The Indian Navy commissioned the fifth diesel-electric Kalvari-class submarine Vagir.
  • The design of the Kalvari-class of submarines is based on the Scorpene class of submarines designed.
• INS Vagir would form part of the Western Naval Command’s Submarine fleet.

 

What are the features of Vagir?

• Belongs to Kalvari-class
  •  Vagir is a Kalvari-class submarine, which includes other vessels, such as the INS Kalvari, INS Khanderi, INS Karanj, INS Vela and INS Vagsheer.
    • In maritime parlance, a class of ships is a group of vessels which have the same make, purpose and displacement. 
    • The class is generally named after the first vessel in the category.
  • This class of submarines have Diesel Electric transmission systems and these are primarily attack submarines or ‘hunter-killer’ types.
    • This means they are designed to target and sink adversary naval vessels.
  • These submarines are around 220 feet long and have a height of 40 feet. 
  • It can reach the highest speeds of 11 knots (20 km/h) when surfaced and 20 knots (37 km/h) when submerged.

 

Technical features

• Vagir is capable of undertaking diverse missions including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying and surveillance missions.
• It has advanced stealth features and is also equipped with both long-range guided torpedoes and anti-ship missiles.

 

What is the strategic importance of the induction of INS Vagir in Indian Navy?

• India currently operates group of nuclear-powered submarines and diesel-electric submarines.
• These submarines have their designated roles in the Carrier Battle Groups, which are formations of ships and submarines with Aircraft Carriers in the lead role.
• As per naval warfare principles, for India to create a strategic deterrence, there is a specific number of submarines of both types that India needs to have in active service.
• However, currently, India has a less-than-ideal number of submarines, with many new ones being at various stages of construction.
• In this context, induction of INS Vagir in Indian Navy is highly significant.
• Induction of INS Vagir also reflects major milestone for Indian Navy’s Project 75 and Make in India initiative.

 

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Q1) What is strategic partnership (SP) model?

 The Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced in 2017 the much-anticipated SP model for the Indian private sector.  SP model seeks to identify a few Indian private companies as Strategic Partners who would initially tie up with a few shortlisted foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to manufacture big-ticket military platforms..

 

Q2) Who is the full form of INS?

 INS stands for Indian Naval Ship. Formerly Indian navy was known as Royal Indian Marine, Royal Indian Navy, etc. When India became a republic on 26 January 1950, the Royal prefix was dropped and the name Indian Navy was officially adopted. The prefix for naval vessels was changed from His Majesty's Indian Ship (HMIS) to Indian Naval Ship (INS).

 

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Source: INS Vagir inducted into Navy: Stealth-class submarine will serve as potent deterrent for adversaries, says chief | PIB | Indian Express | CNBC TV18