Just days after India commissioned its indigenously designed stealth-guided missile destroyer – INS Vishakhapatnam, the Indian Navy commissioned a new stealth submarine with the capacity to act as “sea denial” as well as “access denial” warfare to the adversary in the Indian Ocean Region.
INS Vela was commissioned by Navy chief Admiral Karambir Singh at the naval dockyard amid concerns of increased Chinese naval presence in the Indian Ocean under the motto ‘Vigilant, Valiant, Victorious‘.
Chief of the Naval Staff, said, “INS Vela has the ability to undertake an entire spectrum of submarine operations. Given today’s dynamic and complex security situation, its capability and firepower will play a crucial role in enhancing the Navy’s ability to protect India’s maritime interests,”.
#INSVela commissioned into the #IndianNavy today #25Nov21.#Watch as the naval ensign is hoisted for the first time onboard.#HappyHunting@indiannavy @DDNewslive @airnewsalerts @PBNS_India pic.twitter.com/F7WHrAXNfx
— PRO Defence Mumbai (@DefPROMumbai) November 25, 2021
Vela is the fourth submarine under the project of P75 of the Indian Navy that was conceptualised at the time of the IK Gujral government for the acquisition of 25 submarines under a 30-year plan for building submarines.
In 2005, India and France signed a $ 3.75 billion contract for building six Scorpene-class submarines and it was to be built by Mazgaon Docks Ltd, and on the French side, Naval Group formally the DCNS.
The project faced many delays and questions over the French government’s reluctance for “transfer of technology” that was an integral part of the contract which led to the commissioning of INS Kalvari, five years behind schedule, in 2017.
After Kalvari, two more submarines, INS Khanderi and INS Karanj were commissioned and Vela is the fourth. As of now, sea trials are ongoing for Vagir, while the sixth, Vagsheer, is under construction.
The newly commissioned submarine is equipped with C303 anti-torpedo countermeasure system and can carry up to 18 torpedoes or Exocet anti-ship missiles or 30 mines in place of torpedoes. The new submarine also has a full spectrum of naval warfare, including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying, and area surveillance.
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