New Delhi, January 31: The Indian Navy on Wednesday launched 'Karanj'-- the third Scorpene class submarine at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai. This historic event reaffirms the giant strides taken by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) in the ongoing ‘Make In India’ programme, which is being actively implemented by the Department of Defence Production (MoD). Karanj was commissioned in the Indian Navy on September 4, 1969 and was retired on August 1, 2003. The official handle of Indian Navy tweeted, " Today, the submarine has been reborn in its new avatar".

The newly launched submarine is the third of the six Scorpene-class submarines being built by MDL under the Project 75 programme. Reports state that the first one, INS Kalvari, was commissioned on December 14, 2017 while the second one --Khandari, has already been launched and is undergoing sea trials.

The Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in a statement said, "The third Scorpene class submarine Karanj will be launched at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited on January 31, 2018." Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba will be the chief guest on the occasion. The contract for the construction and Transfer-of-Technology for six Scorpene submarines in series, has M/s Naval Group (formerly DCNS) of France as ‘Collaborator’ and are being built by MDL.

Here's all you need to know about 'Karanj'-- the third Scorpene class submarine:

  • Karanj was commissioned in the Indian Navy on September 4, 1969 and was retired on August 1, 2003.

  • The newly launched Scorpene submarine is designed to operate in all theatres, including the tropics.

  • Karanj had served the nation for 34 years and also took part in 1971 operations

  • The Karanj submarine is the third of the six Scorpene-class submarines being built by MDL under the Project 75 programme.

  • The Scorpene deal for India was signed in October 2005 and the first submarine was to be delivered by 2012, but due to inordinate delays and teething problems it could not happen.

  • The Scorpene submarines can undertake multifarious types of missions that include Anti-Surface warfare, Anti-Submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying, area surveillance etc.

According to a government release, the state-of-the-art technology utilised for construction of these Scorpene class submarines has ensured superior stealth features such as advanced acoustic silencing techniques, low radiated noise levels, hydro-dynamically optimized 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 the surface. The stealth of this potent platform is enhanced by the special attention given to various signatures. These stealth features give it an invulnerability, unmatched by most submarines.

Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of the Naval Staff was the chief guest on the occasion. VAdm Girish Luthra, FOC-in-C, Western Naval Command and VAdm D M Deshpande, Controller Warship Production & Acquisition (CWP&A), Rear Admiral Guillame de Garidel, Head of Asia Pacific, DGA France and other senior officers and dignitaries from MoD, MDL and state government were also present during the ceremony.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 31, 2018 09:17 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).