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INS Khanderi- Relevance for UPSC Exam
- GS Paper 3: Security- Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security; Challenges to internal security through communication networks.
INS Khanderi in news
- Recently, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh conducted a sea sortie on one of the most potent platforms of Indian Navy ‘INS Khanderi’ during his visit to Karwar Naval Base in Karnataka.
- For over four hours, the full spectrum of capabilities of underwater operations of the stealth submarine INS Khanderi was demonstrated to Raksha Mantri.
- He also commissioned India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier ‘Vikrant’
What is INS Khanderi Submarine?
- About: Khanderi Submarine is a Kalvari class diesel-electric attack submarine that was under the Project 75 program of the government.
- INS Khanderi Submarine was commissioned in 2019 by the Defense Minister of India.
- Manufacturer: INS Khanderi Submarine was built under the ‘Make in India’ initiative at Mazagon Docks Limited, Mumbai.
- Submarine Khanderi has been designed by a French organization Naval Group.
- Key Feature:
- Weight: The weight of Khanderi submarine is about 1775 tonnes.
- Its deadly armament of torpedoes can hunt surface ships as well as submarines.
- The torpedoes can be fired from six 21 inch tubes or SM.39 Exocet anti-ship missiles.
- Khanderi will be useful for intelligence gathering and area surveillance operations.
What is a Kalvari-class submarine?
- The Kalvari class submarine is based on Scorpene-class submarines built for the Indian Navy with diesel-electric attack capacity.
- Defence Ministry of India approved Project-75 in 1997 that allows Indian Navy to acquire 24 submarines.
What are the Scorpene-class submarines?
- The Scorpene-class submarines are extremely potent platforms.
- Scorpene-class submarines have advanced stealth features and are equipped with both long range guided torpedoes as well as anti-ship missiles.
- Scorpene-class submarines have a state-of-the-art SONAR and sensor suite permitting outstanding operational capabilities.
Project-75: Key Points
- About: Under Project 75, six Scorpene-class submarines are to be constructed for the Indian Navy by the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL).
- Scorpene-class submarines are next-generation diesel submarines.
- Present status of Six Scorpene-class Submarines under Project 75:
- INS Kalvar: It was launched in October 2015 and was commissioned in December 2017 – five years behind schedule.
- INS Khanderi: It was launched in January 2017 for trials and commissioned in September 2019.
- INS Karanj: It was launched in January 2018 and commissioned on March 10, 2021.
- INS Vela: was launched in May 2019 and inducted recently.
- INS Vagir: It was launched in November 2020 and has commenced harbour trials. It is expected to go for its maiden surface sortie in December 2021.
- INS Vagsheer: It is in the advanced stage of outfitting.
- Promoting Atmanirbhar Bharat: These Submarines are to be constructed under technology transfer from and in collaboration with the Naval Group of France.