Why in news?
President Droupadi Murmu undertook a historic dived sortie onboard INS Vaghsheer on December 28, 2025, from Karwar Naval Base, marking the second presidential submarine embarkation after Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.
Key Facts about INS Vaghsheer
- Class & Type: Kalvari-class (Scorpène design, built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, Mumbai)
- Commissioned: 15 January 2025
- Pennant Number: S26
- Motto: वीरता वरà¥à¤šà¤¸à¤µ विजित (“Courage, Dominance and Victory”)
- Displacement: 1,615 tonnes (surfaced), 1,775 tonnes (submerged)
- Dimensions: Length 67.5 m; Beam 6.2 m; Height 12.3 m
- Propulsion: 4 MTU diesel engines + 360 battery cells; DRDO-developed Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) to be added during mid-life refit
- Speed: 11 knots surfaced, 20 knots submerged
- Range: 6,500 nautical miles surfaced at 8 knots; 550 nautical miles submerged at 4 knots
- Endurance: 50 days
- Test Depth: Classified, but consistent with modern Scorpène-class capabilities
Strategic Importance
- Stealth & Strike Power: Equipped for anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare, vital in the Indian Ocean Region.
- Symbol of Self-Reliance: Built in India under technology transfer from France, showcasing indigenous shipbuilding capacity.
- Operational Readiness: The President’s sortie highlighted confidence in the submarine’s crew and systems.
Download Pdf
