Second Scorpene submarine to be launched on Thursday

Khanderi, the second of the Scorpene Class submarines, will be launched by Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre at the Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) in Mumbai on Thursday.   The launch would see the separation of the submarine from the pontoon on which it is being assembled and to its final setting afloat, as the country enters the golden jubilee year of Indian Navy's submarine arm this year.   The first submarine of the Kalvari Class - built by MDL in collaboration with France's DCNS as part of Project 75 - is currently completing its sea trials and is due to be commissioned into the Indian Navy soon. The state-of-the-art feature of the Scorpene includes superior stealth and ability to launch a crippling attack on the enemy using precision guided weapons. The attacks can be carried out with torpedoes, tube-launched anti-ship missiles both while underwater or on surface in all theatres including the tropics, giving it invulnerability unmatched by many other submarines. It can undertake multifarious missions like anti-surface and anti-submarine warfares, intelligence gathering, mine-laying, area surveillance, etc, that are typically undertaken by any modern submarine.   The Khanderi has been built on the "modular construction" technique, which divided it into several sections and outfitting them concurrently, a complex task involving laying kms of cabling and piping in extremely congested compartments. All the equipment have been installed in the submarine with 95 percent cabling and piping completed while processes like pressure testing, setting-to-work and commissioner of various systems are currently underway and continue after it is launched.   The MDL's jewel in the crown is the new submarine assembly shop spread over 10,000 sqm which can enable it take up concurrent construction of two submarine production lines, adding upto 12 submarines under various stages of construction at any point of time.   Stay updated on the go with GPlus News. Click here to download the app for your device.