The Indian Navy has launched its fourth P75 Scorpene-class submarine, INS Vela, at state-owned firm Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited’s (MDL) facility in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

The vessel is being constructed domestically by MDL under the Indian Government’s ‘Make In India’ programme. Vela was towed to Mumbai Port Trust for separation from the pontoon.

Prior to delivery to the navy, the submarine will be put through rigorous trials and tests, both in harbour and at sea.

The trials will be preceded by the integration of equipment and machinery on-board.

MDL entered a deal to build a series of six Scorpene-class submarines through technology transfer and partnership with French firm Naval Group.



As part of the technology transfer pact, Naval Group offers technical support to MDL in the field of construction, integration and tests of submarines in India.

“The P75 programme is the key element of the strategic partnership built in domain of submarine building, over the last decades between India and France.”

This involves the transfer of technical data package to MDL through information system, as well as on job training to MDL’s personnel on critical technologies.

The Scorpene-class vessels have been designed and developed by Naval Group. They can be used to perform various tasks, including anti-surface, anti-submarine warfare, long-range strikes, special operations or intelligence gathering.

Naval Group international industrial development senior vice-president Massi Begous said: “The P75 programme is the key element of the strategic partnership built in domain of submarine building, over the last decades between India and France.

“This launch represents a new milestone for this unique and one of a kind industrial programme and illustrates the self-reliance of Indian Navy.”

INS Kalvari, the first submarine in the Scorpene-class, was commissioned in December 2017.

Separately, the Indian Navy decommissioned its Rajput-class destroyer INS Ranjit during a ceremony at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam.