Mazagon Dock Scorpene submarine: Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) has delivered the sixth Scorpene-class submarine, Vaghsheer, to the Indian Navy on January 9, 2025. The submarine is set to be commissioned as INS Vaghsheer and represents a significant achievement under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives, which aim to promote self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
This delivery completes Project P-75, which involved the construction of six Scorpene submarines for the Indian Navy as reported by Business today. The previous submarines in the series, Kalvari, Khanderi, Karanj, Vela, and Vagir are already in service.
MDL Chairman and Managing Director Sanjeev Singhal highlighted the importance of this milestone, stating that the delivery of these submarines reaffirms India’s position as a member of the exclusive group of nations capable of building advanced submarines.
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Vaghsheer is equipped to handle a variety of missions, including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, and area surveillance. It is designed to operate in diverse environments and is compatible with other naval units.
“The delivery of INS Vaghsheer showcases India’s growing self-reliance in defence technology,” said Sanjeev Singhal, Chairman and Managing Director of MDL as per Financial Express.
MDL described it as a transformative addition to the Navy’s submarine operations. Vaghsheer includes several indigenous upgrades, such as a specially designed air conditioning system, an internal communication and broadcast system, advanced main batteries, and Ku-Band SATCOM for enhanced communication.
MDL recently secured a contract worth ₹1,990 crore for constructing Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) plugs for submarines. This deal is part of a larger ₹2,867 crore agreement with the Ministry of Defence, which also includes integrating Electronic Heavyweight Torpedoes into the Kalvari-class submarines. These upgrades will significantly enhance the combat capabilities of the submarines.
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MDL’s stock has shown strong performance, closing at ₹2,231 on January 9, 2025, with a 3.46% increase for the day. Over the past year, the stock has more than doubled, reflecting its strong position in the defence sector. The government holds an 84.83% stake in MDL, emphasizing its strategic importance in national defence.
The successful delivery of Vaghsheer underscores India’s growing expertise in defence manufacturing and strengthens the Navy’s ability to protect the country’s maritime interests.
