INS-Kalvari – India’s First Indigenously Built Submarine Joins Indian Navy

Mumbai, 14 December 2017: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today commissioned INS-Kalvari - the country’s first indigenously built attack submarine into the Indian Navy, at an impressive ceremony held at the Naval dockyard in Mumbai. INS Kalvari is the first among the six Scorpene-class submarines being built at Indian shipyard Mazagon Docks Ltd. in collaboration with French shipbuilder Naval Group.  The submarine will soon join the naval fleet in the Indian Ocean.

Shri Ch. Vidyasagar Rao, the Governor of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister, Mrs. Nirmala Sitharaman, Raksha Mantri, Dr. Subhash Bhamre, Raksha Rajya Mantri, Shri Ajit Kumar Doval, National Security Advisior, Admiral Sunil Lanba, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command, Commodore Rakesh Anand (Retd.), CMD, MDL, Commodore Subra-Manian (Retd.), Commanding Officer of erstwhile Kalvari (a Soviet Foxtrot class submarine) and a host of other dignitaries were also present to witness this historic and landmark occasion. 

Congratulating the people of India on this occasion, the Prime Minister commended all those involved in its manufacture. Describing INS Kalvari as a prime example of "Make in India," Prime Minister Modi said the submarine is an excellent illustration of the fast growing strategic partnership between India and France. He said the skill-set accumulated during the manufacture of INS Kalvari is an asset for India. 

Identifying the Indian Ocean as the gateway to the road to development in the 21^st century, the Prime Minister said that the modern and multi-dimensional Indian Navy plays a leading role in promoting peace and stability while safeguarding India’s global, strategic and economic interests in the Indian Ocean. The INS Kalvari will further strengthen the Indian Navy in the Indian Ocean, he said.

He said the ocean's innate potential adds economic muscle to our national development and that India is well aware of the challenges such as sea-borne terrorism, piracy, and drug trafficking, that not just India, but other nations in the region also have to face. He said India is playing a key role in tackling these challenges.

INS Kalvari is manned by a team comprising 08 officers and 35 sailors with Captain SD Mehendale at the helm as her first Commanding Officer. The commissioning will augment the offensive capability of the Indian Navy, and the Western Naval Command in particular. (PIB)