Dainik Nation News Portal
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday dedicated naval submarine INS Kalvari to the nation. In a ceremony in Mumbai, he expressed his gratitude to France and the workers responsible for building the vessel, which is the first of six Scorpene-class submarines in the Indian Navy. Touted as India’s deadliest submarine, the attack submarine was indigenously built at Mazgaon Dock Limited in Mumbai in September this year. For the last 120 days, the vessel was put through extensive trials and tests.
INS Kalvari is the first of the six Scorpene-class submarines built by shipbuilder Mazagon Dock Limited. The submarines, designed by French naval defence and energy company DCNS, are being built in Mumbai as part of Project-75 of the Indian Navy.
It’s after a gap of 17 years that a submarine that was built indigenously in India was being commissioned in the Indian Navy. It would be the 16th submarine as part of India’s fleet, a figure that has long been in dire need of upgradation. To put this in perspective, China has 68 submarines, while the US has 70. North Korea is the world leader with 78 submarines.
“I thank all those workers associated with INS Kalvari. I also want to thank France for the construction of INS Kalvari. This is a fine example of the fast growing strategic partnership between India and France,” Modi said in Mumbai. “Today is a day of pride. I would like to congratulate all the citizens of this country on this historic occasion.”
The commissioning ceremony was also attended by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba, Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and top defence officials.
