In a boost to the prowess of the force, the Indian Navy on Monday commissioned its fifth submarine INS Vagir. Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, the submarine belongs to the Kalvari class of submarines.
The commissioning ceremony of the submarine was attended by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar.
The Navy said, “The submarine will boost the Indian Navy’s capability to advance India’s maritime interests in deterring the enemy and conduct Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) to strike the decisive blow in times of crisis.” “
‘Vagir’ meaning sand shark, represents stealth and fearlessness, two qualities synonymous with the ethos of a submarine.
Equipped with some of the world’s best sensors, the Navy said its weapons package includes enough wire-guided torpedoes and surface-to-surface missiles to neutralize large enemy fleets.
The Navy said the submarine also has the capability to launch Marine commandos for special operations, while its powerful diesel engines can quickly charge batteries for stealth missions.
It has a state-of-the-art torpedo decoy system for self-defense, a Navy release said. INS Vagir has been inducted amid the growing presence of the Chinese Navy in the Indian Ocean.
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