Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (“MDL”) continues its saga of ‘self-reliance’ ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ Initiative of the Government of India, with the delivery of the fifth Scorpene Submarine ‘VAGIR’ of Project P-75 on December 20, 2022 to the Indian Navy, subsequently to be commissioned into Indian Navy as INS Vagir. The Acceptance Document was signed today by VAdm Narayan Prasad (Retd), Chairman & Managing Director MDL and RAdm C. Raghuram, Chief Staff Officer (Tech), Western Naval Command in the presence of Commanding Officer (desig) Cdr S. Divakar, MDL Directors and Navy personnel at MDL.

Vagir, was launched on November 12, 2020 and has undergone a very comprehensive and rigorous set of tests and trials, for more than a year, to ensure delivery of a fully combat worthy submarine, capable of operation in all modes and regimes off deployment.

Speaking on the occasion, CMD MDL said that with the delivery of Vagir, India further cements its position as a submarine building nation and that MDL has lived up to its reputation as one of India’s leading shipyards with capacity and capability to meet requirements and aspirations of the Indian Navy in all dimensions. The delivery of five Submarines namely, Kalvari, Khanderi, Karanj, Vela and now Vagir, reaffirmed India’s membership in the exclusive group of submarine building nations.

CMD further mentioned that the building of Scorpene has been challenging due to all work being done in the most congested of spaces dovetailed by the stringent clearances and tolerances which were required to be achieved and maintained throughout the period of construction. These challenges were, however, met head-on and successfully overcome by MDL, without any compromise in quality and performance.

The state-of-the-art technology utilized in the Scorpene has ensured superior stealth features (such as advanced acoustic absorption techniques, low radiated noised levels, hydro-dynamically optimized shape etc.) 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 the potent platform is enhanced by the special attention provided to her characteristic underwater signatures. These stealth features give it an invulnerability, unmatched by most submarines.

Vagir can undertake multifarious types of missions i.e. Anti-Surface, Anti-Submarine, Intelligence gathering, Mine Laying, Area surveillance etc. It is designed to operate in all theatres of operation, showcasing interoperability with other components of a Naval Task Force. It is another potent platform, making a transformational shift in submarine operations.

The sixth Scorpene submarine-Vaghsheer was launched on April 20, 2022 and is getting readied for trials. The Scorpene project would not have achieved the current progress without the unconditional support, course correction and active encouragement of the Department of Defence Production (DDP) MOD and Indian Navy throughout its various phases of construction.

MDL has always been in the forefront of the nation’s progressive indigenous warship building programme. With construction of the Leander&Godavari class Frigates, Khukri class Corvettes, Missile Boats, Delhi & Kolkata class Destroyers and the newly inducted Visakhapatnam class of Destroyers, Shivalik class Stealth Frigates, the SSK submarines and the Scorpene submarines under its belt, the history of modern day MDL almost maps the history of indigenous warship building in India.

As a major step towards AtmaNirbhar Bharat, MDL has commenced design and construction of a Midget submarine which is proof of concept for subsequent Indigenous Submarine Program.

MDL has undertaken and completed an extensive modernization programme for its infrastructure and facilities to meet the increasing demand of Nation’s Maritime needs. MDL today is capable to build 10 capital warships and 11 submarines simultaneously.