INS Karanj :- India’s Third Scorpene Class Submarine ready for launch

INS Karanj, which is third Kalvari-Class Submarine has completed all fabrication work and currently, the submarine is been prepared for launch by end of this year. This was also the first confirmation that third submarine has been named ” Karanj” continuing with the tradition of naming newer submarines on retired submarines.

INS Karanj can carry 18 torpedoes and travel 1,020km underwater. The 66-metre submarine can dive up to a depth of 300 metres to elude enemy detection.

It has superior stealth and the ability to launch crippling attacks on the enemy with precision-guided weapons. The attack can be carried out with torpedoes as well as tube-launched anti-ship missiles underwater or from the surface.

This Scorpene submarine is designed to operate in all theatres of war, including the tropics. It’s capable of handling various missions such as anti-surface warfare (attacking surface ships), anti-submarine warfare (destroying submarines), intelligence gathering, mine-laying and area surveillance.

According to MDL, the state-of-art technology utilised in the Scorpene ensures superior stealth features such as advanced acoustic silencing techniques, low radiated noise levels, hydro-dynamically optimised shape and the ability to launch a crippling attack on the enemy using precision guided weapons. The attack can be launched with both torpedoes and tube launched anti-ship missiles, whilst underwater or on surface.

The stealth of this potent platform is enhanced by the special attention given to various signatures. These stealth features give it invulnerability, unmatched by most submarines.

Scorpene submarines can undertake multifarious types of missions, that is, Anti-Surface warfare, Anti-Submarine warfare, Intelligence gathering, Mine Laying, Area Surveillance etc. The Submarine is designed to operate in all theatres, with means provided to ensure interoperability with other components of a Naval Task Force.

INS Kalvari was on Thursday handed over to the Indian Navy for its commissioning.Kalavari is named after the dreaded Tiger Shark is equipped with state of the art technology, including superior stealth features such as “advanced acoustic silencing techniques”, low radiated noise and the ability to launch a crippling attack on the enemy using precision guided weapons.

Marking a “generational shift” in submarine operations, Scorpene submarines can undertake varied missions such as anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering and mine laying.

MDL officials explain that with the delivery of Kalvari, the firm has mastered the art of building advanced submarines. Hereafter, the second of the Scorpenes under construction at MDL, Khanderi, is currently undergoing the rigorous phase of sea trials. It was launched in January 2017. The third Scorpene, Karanj, is being readied for launch later this year. “The balance submarines are in various stages of outfitting,” says a top MDL official.

The contract for the construction and Transfer of Technology for six Scorpene submarines in series was signed between French defence major, Naval Group, and MDL in October 2005. This ongoing programme is called Project-75 and is part of a ‘30-Year Plan for Indigenous Submarine Construction’ approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security in 1999. The plan was to develop two production lines on which six submarines each- named Project 75 and Project 75 (I)- would be built with foreign submarine makers.

India’s submarine fleet

The Indian fleet consists of Russian Kilo-class and German HDW class 209 submarines. Limited serviceability is also an issue — not all these boats are battle ready at any given point of time.

India’s sub-sea warfare capability pales in front of China’s. The Communist neighbour operates 53 diesel-electric attack submarines, five nuclear attack submarines and four nuclear ballistic missile submarines.