SUBMARINE VAGSHEER’S TRIAL RUN BEGINS

The trial run for the sixth Scorpene Submarine of Project-75, Vagsheer, began at the Mazagon Docks in the city on Wednesday. Defence secretary Dr Ajay Kumar was the chief guest on the occasion. The submarine is built as part of the Make in India initiative.

Dr Kumar said, “Vagsheer will undergo rigorous sea trials for more than a year and will be commissioned later as a fully combat-worthy submarine.”

Vagsheer is named after the sand fish, a deadly deep-sea predator of the Indian Ocean. The first submarine Vagsheer, ex-Russia, was commissioned into the Indian Navy on December 26, 1974 and decommissioned on April 30, 1997 after almost three decades of yeoman service to the nation. In true nautical tradition, Vagsheer finds a new incarnation, by the same name. Infused with new life, Vagsheer will once again be guarding the maritime interests of the nation.

The state-of-art technology utilised in the Scorpene class submarines has ensured superior features such as advanced acoustic absorption techniques, low radiated noise levels, hydro-dynamically optimised shape among others 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, both underwater or on surface. The stealth of this 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.