2nd Scorpene class submarine Khanderi launched in Mumbai

Khanderi the second Kalvari class submarine is launched at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited MDL Pic Datta KumbharKhanderi the second Scorpene class submarine that has superior stealth and the ability to launch a crippling attack with torpedoes as well as tubelaunched antiship missiles whilst underwater or on surface was today launched at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited MDL hereUnion Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre presided over the function to initiate the launch of Khanderi Yard 11876 The submarine was launched by the Union ministers wife Bina Bhamre Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba was also present on the occasion when the submarine was separated from the pontoon on which it was assembledThe stateoftheart features of this Scorpene class submarine include superior stealth and the ability to launch a crippling attack on the enemy using precision guided weaponThe attack can be launched with torpedoes as well as tubelaunched antiship missiles whilst underwater or on surfaceThe stealth features will give it an invulnerabilityunmatched by many submarinesThe submarine is designed to operate in all theatres including the tropics All means and communications are provided to ensure interoperability with other components of a Naval task force It can undertake multifarious types of missions typically undertaken by any modern submarine ie antisurface warfare antisubmarine warfare intelligence gathering mine laying area surveillance etcKhanderi is the second of the six submarines being built at MDL in collaboration with Ms DCNS of France as part of Project 75 of Indian Navy The first one Kalvari is completing sea trials and will be commissioned shortly into the Indian Navy a defence official saidThe Indian Navys submarine arm will complete 50 years on December 8 this yearThe Submarine Day is celebrated every year to commemorate the birth of the submarine arm with induction of the first submarine erstwhile INS Kalvari into the Indian Navy on December 8 1967 it said India joined the exclusive group of submarine constructing nations on February 7 1992 with the commissioning of the first Indianbuilt submarine INS ShalkiThe MDL built this submarine and went on to commission another submarine INS Shankul on May 28 1994 These submarines are still in service today 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 Khanderi is also the name for Tiger Shark an MDL official saidThe submarine is built according to the principle of modular construction which involves dividing the submarine into a number of sections and outfitting them concurrently The equipment is mounted in a special manner and then embarked into the sections The complexity of the task increases exponentially as it involves laying kilometres of cabling and piping in extremely congested compartmentsAll equipment has been installed in the submarine with 95 per cent cabling and piping also being completed Pressure testing settingtowork and commissioning of various systems of the submarine is presently in progress and would continue after the launching of the submarineThe important safety milestone of vacuumtesting was completed in the first attempt itself and within a single day on January 5 This matched the record of Kalvari which also completed the vacuum test in one goTill December the submarine will undergo rigorous trials and tests both in harbour and at sea while on surface and whilst divedThese trials are designed to test each system to its fullest capacity Thereafter it would to be commissioned into the Indian Navy as INS Khanderi This would be preceded by the commissioning of Kalvari later this year The other four submarines will follow in the wake of Khanderi at intervals of nine monthsAs per tradition ships and submarines of the Navy are brought alive again after decommissioning The first Khanderi was commissioned into the Navy on December 6 1968 and decommissioned on October 18 1989