First Indian Scorpene-class submarine undocks
The first Scorpene-class diesel-electric submarine of the Indian Navy has been officially undocked, the Indian Ministry of Defence announced on 6 April.
The submarine, INS Kalvari, is the first of six Scorpene-class stealth submarines being built under Project 75 with France’s DCNS under French license. INS Kalvari is scheduled to be commissioned in 2016, while the remaining five vessels will be delivered by the yard to the navy by 2020.
Project 75 was delayed by almost 40 months, but it has now been brought back on track and the delivery schedule has been reduced. Manohar Parrikar, Defence Minister of India, asked that the yards Mazagon Dock and Goa shipyard double their production in the next three years.
Parrikar noted that the yards would be subject to a penalty if they do not complete the project in the stipulated time, and would be awarded a bonus if they completed the project early.
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