NEW DELHI, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- India on Wednesday launched the third of its six Scorpene-class submarines, named "INS Karanj", at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai city, said Indian Navy officials.
The submarine would go through year-long tests before it finally gets commissioned for the Indian Navy. It was built under the "Project 75" of the Indian Navy, which is supposed to build six such submarines.
The first one "INS Kalvari", a diesel-electric attack submarine, was commissioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Dec. 14 last year. The second "INS Khandari" was launched in January last year and is currently undergoing sea trials.
The contract for the construction and transfer-of-technology (ToT) for six Scorpene submarines has M/s Naval Group of France as "collaborator." The Scorpene deal for India was signed in October 2005.
India currently has 15 submarines. According to Indian Navy sources, Scorpene submarines can undertake multifarious types of missions i.e. anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying, area surveillance.
