The Indian Navy's first Scorpene class stealth submarine, Kalvari, on Monday was undocked at the Mazagon Docks Limited (MDL) here.
The launch of the submarine, which was built in collaboration with French defence manufacturers DCNS, was witnessed by Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral RK Dhowan and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, amongst others.
After the launch of the Kalvari, Parrikar called for the staff and workers present at the docks to help make the Indian Navy a true 'Blue water Navy', and urged the defence public sector yards to double their production in the coming three years.
According to reports, six Scorpene-class submarines are being built at the MDL.
The Indian Navy at present operates only 14 conventional diesel-electric submarines. Ten of them are Russian Kilo class and four are German HDW class submarines which are getting aged.
The government is planning to get 30 submarines before 2022, but some of the projects have been delayed. The original delivery schedule for the first submarine was December 2012 and remaining submarines were to be delivered at intervals of one year each. he delivery schedule was delayed as the government had to approve the cost revision.
