New Delhi: The Indian Navy is set to begin 2025 with two new commissionings. The last of the Kalvari-class or Scorpene-class submarines and the first of the Nilgiri-class frigates are likely to be commissioned in January, ThePrint has learnt.
Both were scheduled for commissioning in December, but the timelines have changed, according to sources in the defence and security establishment.
Vagsheer is the sixth and last Scorpene-class submarine, ordered by the Indian Navy in 2005. It was launched in April 2022. These submarines have been completely built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders through a transfer of technology from France-based Naval Group. While the French name for this class of submarines is Scorpene, the Indian Navy has classified these as the Kalvari-class submarines.
Scorpenes are 2000-ton conventional attack submarines designed for all types of missions, including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, long-range strikes, special operations or intelligence gathering. These submarines have six weapon-launching tubes and 18 weapons (torpedoes, missiles). The first of the Kalvari-class submarines, INS Kalvari, was inducted into the Indian Navy in 2017.
Mazagon Dock will also build three more of these submarines for the Indian Navy under Project 75 (P75). As reported by ThePrint earlier, the Navy will sign the contract by next month.
The guided missile Nilgiri-class frigates are also being built by Mazagon Dock. The one likely to be commissioned next month will be the first of the Navy’s seven new stealth frigates.
These Project 17A frigates are based on the P17 Shivalik-class frigates with advanced stealth features, and indigenous weapons and sensors, and are being built using integrated construction methodology. The P17A frigates will offer “improved survivability, sea keeping, stealth and ship manoeuvrability”, according to the Ministry of Defence.
On 9 December, India commissioned INS Tushil into India’s Western Fleet, known as the Sword Arm. The second ship, Tamal, is expected to be delivered by early next year. These ships are part of a $2.5 billion deal inked between India and Russia in 2016 for four frigates. According to the agreement, two ships were to be built in Russia and the other two will be built at the Goa Shipyard in India with technical collaboration from Russia.
Furthermore, on 18 December, Nirdeshak, the second Survey Vessel Large (SVL) ship is set to be commissioned by Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth in Visakhapatnam. The first such vessel, INS Sandhyak, was inducted by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in February 2024.
The ship’s role is to carry out full-scale hydrographic surveys of ports, harbours, navigational channels, coastal areas and deep seas. These activities are mainly undertaken to ensure safe marine navigation. The ship will also be capable of undertaking several naval operations.