On May 6th 2019, INS Vela, the fourth of P75 SCORPENE®-class submarine, totally built by Indian shipyard Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) through years of technology transfer and partnership with Naval Group was launched by Smt Veena Ajay Kumar, wife of Dr Ajay Kumar, IAS, Secretary Defense Production, Ministry of Defense.
After a series of remarkable events such as the commissioning of INS Kalvari in December 2017 and launching of the Karanj (the third submarine) in January 2018, the Vela submarine is the fourth of the series of the Scorpene®-class submarine ordered by India in 2005 to be launched. After this launch, the trained and skilled MDL team will undertake the integration of the equipment and machinery onboard, right before the beginning of the sea trials.
This event highlights the success of indigenous submarines construction program of the Government of India. These submarines have been completely built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) through technology transfer and partnership with Naval Group, in line with Indian Government’s “Make in India” policy. This series of six submarines have been fitted with a number of equipment, built in India by qualified and highly trained industrial MSMEs which form the sound base of submarine building ecosystem of India.
“Naval Group is proud to reiterate its long-term commitment to India. The P75 program 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 program and illustrates the self-reliance of Indian Navy,” emphasized by Massi Begous, SVP of the international industrial development at Naval Group.
P75 submarine program demonstrates the success of the large transfer of technology, given the complexity of building submarines along with a high indigenous content. By building upon and nurturing these know-how and skills in India, Naval Group is committed to significantly enhance the level of indigenization in future projects of the Indian Navy supported by the Indian Government.
The SCORPENE® is a 2000 tons conventional-propulsion submarine designed and developed by Naval Group for all types of mission, such as surface vessel warfare, anti-submarine warfare, long-range strikes, special operations or intelligence gathering. Extremely stealthy and fast, it has a level of operating automation that allows a limited number of crew, which reduces its operating costs significantly. Its combat edge is highlighted by the fact that it has 6 weapon launching tubes, 18 weapons (torpedoes, missiles, mines).
With 14 submarines sold internationally by Naval Group, the SCORPENE® is an essential reference product in the area of conventional attack submarines (SSK) for Navies across the globe. The product is easily adapted for improvements requested by any naval customers. The progressive improvement through dedicated and experienced designers of Naval Group ensures this seamless advances and modern technology integrations.
Naval Group is a European leader in naval defense. As an international high-tech company, Naval Group designs, builds and supports submarines and surface ships. It also supplies services to shipyards and naval bases. In addition, the group offers a wide range of marine renewable energy solutions. Attentive to corporate social responsibility, Naval Group adheres to the United Nations Global Compact. The group reported revenues of €3.6 billion and a workforce of 14,860 (data for 2018).
Naval Group India is a 100 % owned subsidiary of Naval Group, which is headquartered in Paris, France. Established in September 2008 as DCNS India, it has its presence felt in 2 major cities: Mumbai and New Delhi.
The main purpose of Naval Group to be in India would be to support the Indigenization through ‘Make in India’ activities for Scorpene® submarine equipment, to develop the Indian defense eco-system, as well as to develop design services in India with talented Indian engineers. The Endeavour of Naval Group India is to be a visionary and to further its involvement in empowering more and more industries by creating a robust eco-system that can cater to the varied defense needs of the country.
