India commissions fourth Kalvari sub
The Indian Navy commissioned INS Vela, its fourth Kalvari-class submarine, in a ceremony in Mumbai on 25 November. (Indian Navy)
The Indian Navy’s submarine-building programme has now reached the two-thirds point, with a fourth boat commissioned.
On 25 November, the Indian Navy (IN) commissioned its fourth of sixth Scorpene submarines, INS Vela. The move follows close on the heels of the commissioning of the first-of-class Visakhapatnam-class destroyer four days earlier.
Part of the Kalvari class, this 1,615t submarine built by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL), with assistance from the French OEM Naval Group, was launched on 6 May 2019. After completing sea trials, it was delivered to the IN on 9 November.
The 67.56m-long INS Vela is the second to join the navy this year, after INS Karanj was inducted at Mumbai’s Naval Dockyard
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Canada boosts Arctic presence as CCGS Donjek prepares for sea trials this year]()
Canada boosts Arctic presence as CCGS Donjek prepares for sea trials this year
CCGS Donjek is currently being prepared to start testing and be handed over to the Canadian Coast Guard in the second half of 2026.
-
![HHI poised to start submarine production in Peru pending election outcome]()
HHI poised to start submarine production in Peru pending election outcome
South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries confirmed to Shephard that the company is awaiting the Peruvian government’s decision to allow it to move forward with the production of the HDS-1500 submarine.
-
![How the Hormuz mine threat exposes potential Baltic MCM shortfalls]()
How the Hormuz mine threat exposes potential Baltic MCM shortfalls
Ageing Baltic vessels and an absence of active minehunting vessel programmes in the region have been put under the spotlight in the recent conflict.
-
![“We must end the mentality of ever larger platforms”: Why USVs are scaling]()
“We must end the mentality of ever larger platforms”: Why USVs are scaling
Multiple USV programme milestones announced last week, aligned with a reinforcement of the Royal Navy’s vision for a hybrid fleet, point to innovation-led ambition but also to a structural calculation with resource ceilings that neither London nor Washington can ignore.
