Mumbai - Minister of State for Defence Dr. Subhash Bhamre launched 'Khanderi', the second submarine of Kalvari class submarines in Mumbai on Thursday morning.
All equipment has been installed in the submarine, with 95% cabling and piping completed. Pressure testing, Setting-to-Work and commissioning of various systems of the submarine is presently in progress, and would continue after the launching of the submarine. The ‘all-important’ safety milestone of vacuum testing was completed in the first attempt itself on a single day, on 05 January 2017. This matched the record of 'Kalvari', which also completed the Vacuum Test in one shot, a feat unmatched in the annals of submarine construction.
Between now and December 2017, the submarine will undergo rigorous trials and tests, both in harbor and at sea, while on surface and whilst dived. Thereafter she would to be commissioned into the Indian Navy as INS Khanderi. This would be preceded by the commissioning of Kalvari later this year. The first submarine of the class (Kalvari) is completing its sea trials and will be commissioned shortly into the Indian Navy. The other four submarines will follow in the wake of Khanderi at intervals of nine months.
The state-of-art features of the Scorpene include superior stealth and the ability to launch a crippling attack on the enemy using precision guided weapons. The attack can be launched with torpedoes, as well as tube launched anti-ship missiles, whilst underwater or on surface. The Stealth features will give it an invulnerability, unmatched by many submarines.
For those interested in trivia, Khanderi is named after the Island fort of Maratha forces which played a vital role in ensuring their supremacy at sea in the late 17th century. The first Khanderi was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 06 December 1968 and decommissioned on 18 October 1989 after more than 20 years of yeoman service to the nation. In true nautical traditions, she will now be re-incarnated, by Mazagon Dock, once again a powerful predator of the deep, guarding the vast maritime interests and areas of our nation.
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