India launches fourth Scorpene submarine INS Vela

Indian shipbuilder Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) launched the fourth Indian Navy Scorpene-class submarine INS Vela on May 6.

The submarine was towed to Mumbai Port Trust for separation from the pontoon.

INS Vela is now set to undergo a series of harbor and sea trials before being delivered to the Indian Navy.

The submarine is fourth of overall six units that will be delivered to the Indian Navy through a transfer of technology agreement with France’s Naval group.

The lead boat in the class, INS Kalvari, was commissioned in December 2017 and the launch of the third boat, INS Karanj, took place in January 2018.

Scorpene-class (also known as Kalvari-class) submarines are 67.5 meters long with a height of about 12.3 meters. They are fitted with 360 battery cells (each weighing 750 kg) powering the permanently magnetised propulsion motor.

The boats are equipped with the Submarine Tactical Integrated Combat System (SUBTICS), sea skimming SM 39 Exocet missiles or the heavy weight wire guided Surface and Underwater Target (SUT) torpedoes.