India launches fourth Scorpene-class submarine
The Indian Navy’s fourth Project 75 Scorpene-class submarine, INS Vela, has been launched, Naval Group announced on 7 May.
INS Vela is the fourth of six Scorpene-class stealth submarines being built by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) as part of Project 75 under a technology transfer partnership with Naval Group.
The MDL team will now undertake the integration of the onboard equipment and machinery before the vessel begins its sea trials.
Massi Begous, SVP of the international industrial development at Naval Group, said: ‘Naval Group is proud to reiterate its long-term commitment to India. The P75 programme is the key element of the strategic partnership built in domain of submarine building over the last decades between India and France.
‘This launch represents a new milestone for this unique and one of a kind industrial programme and illustrates the self-reliance of the Indian Navy.’
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