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INS Kalvari - History, Overview, Specifications And Interesting Facts

Last Updated on Sep 21, 2023
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INS Kalvari is the Indian Navy’s first Scorpene-class stealth submarine. INS Kalvari, on the 6th of April, 2015, was successfully undocked at the Mazagaon Dock Limited (MDL). It was commissioned on 14th December 2017. 

This topic in the UPSC CSE exam is covered both in prelims and in mains in GS Paper 3 in the Science and Tech Section. 

In this article, we will study India’s first Scorpene Class submarine – the INS Kalvari, its specifications, and more for the UPSC CSE Exam.

What is INS Kalvari?

INS Kalvari is the first of six Scorpene-class submarines built in India. It was built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) under Project 75. It is a diesel-electric attack submarine. It was commissioned into the Indian Navy on December 14, 2017. 

Overview of INS Kalvari

The Indian Navy’s first Scorpene-class stealth submarine, INS Kalvari, is a product of the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

  • It was constructed at Mazagon Docks Limited with the French builder M/s Naval Group.
  • It was built under Project 75 (Kalvari Class).
  • INS Kalvari (S-21) was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 14 December 2017.

INS Kalvari Overview

Name

Kalvari

Pennant No.

S-21

Ordered

2005

Builder

Mazagon Dock Limited, Mumbai

Launched

27 October 2015

Commissioned into the Indian Navy

14 December 2017

Motto

Ever Onward

Status

In Active Service under the Indian Navy

Source: Times of India

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Specifications of INS Kalvari

INS Kalvari is a scorpene-class diesel-electric attack submarine of the Indian Navy. The following tables give a list of the specifications of INS Kalvari:

Specifications of INS Kalvari

Name of Submarine

INS Kalvari (S21)

Class

Scorpene-class submarine (kalvari class)

Propulsion

4 x MTU 12v 396 SE84 Diesel Engines

360x battery cells

DRDO PAFC Fuel Cell AIP

Weight

1565 tonne

Length

67.5 m

Beam

6.2 m

Height

12.3 m

Depth

300+ meters

Draught

5.8 m

Speed

  • Surface Speed 11kn (20km/hr)
  • Submerged Speed 20 kn (37km/hr)

Armaments

6 x 533 mm torpedo tubes ( 6 weapon launching tubes)

18 weapons (torpedoes, missiles, mines)

Electronic warfare

C303/S anti-torpedo countermeasure system

Stealth Features

  • Advanced Acoustic Silencing
  • Low radiated Noise Levels
  • Dynamically optimized shape
  • Attack-and-search periscope equipped with infrared/low light level cameras and laser range finders to spot targets on the surface of the sea.

Mission Types that INS Kalvari can undertake

  • anti-surface warfare mission
  • anti-submarine warfare mission
  • intelligence gathering mission
  • mine-laying mission
  • area surveillance mission

Constructed by

Mazagon Dock Limited, Mumbai

Associated Project

Project 75

Date of Commission in Indian Navy

14 December 2017

The Naming of INS Kalvari

INS Kalvari is named after the dreaded Tiger Shark, a deadly deep-sea predator of the Indian Ocean.

  • INS Kalvari actually inherited its name from the S23 submarine of the Indian Navy, which was also called INS Kalvari.
  • The name Kalvari symbolizes the submarine's strength, agility, and predatory power.

Manufacturing of INS Kalvari

INS Kalvari is the first indigenously Indian Submarine built under Project 75

  • INS Kalvari was constructed at Mazagon Docks Limited, Mumbai, in collaboration with the French builder M/s Naval Group under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
  • The construction began on 14 December 2006.
  • The submarine was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 14 December 2017.

Check out Important Chapters in Science and Tech for the UPSC CSE Exam!!

INS Kalvari Project 75

INS Kalvari submarine is the first Indian Submarine which is part of the $4.16 billion Project 75 contract to build Six Scorpene-class submarines. Project 75 is a project related to the construction of diesel-electric submarines for the Indian Navy. The construction of all these submarines under Project 75 will be under the Make in India initiative.

Read more about INS Vagir!

History of INS Kalvari

INS Kalvari is the lead ship of the Kalvari-class submarines. It was commissioned into the Indian Navy on December 14, 2017. It is the first indigenously built submarine in India. It is a significant step towards the country's goal of self-reliance in defense.

The construction of INS Kalvari began in 2009 at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai. The submarine was built under Project 75 of the Indian Navy. It is a program to build six Scorpene-class submarines in India.

INS Kalvari is a diesel-electric attack submarine. It is capable of operating in both shallow and deep waters. It is equipped with a variety of weapons and sensors. It includes torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, and surface-to-air missiles. The submarine has a crew of 35 officers and sailors.

Read more about INS Vikrant!

List Of Other Submarines in India

The currently active submarines in India are:

Kalvari Class Submarines of Indian Navy List

Kalvari Class of Submarines of the Indian Navy is a scorpene class diesel-electric attack submarine being constructed by Mazagon Dock Limited, Mumbai, under Project 75. There are 6 submarines to be constructed under the Kalvari Class. The four of them have already been commissioned into the Indian Navy. These four Kalvari Class Submarines are:

Name of Submarine

Date of Commission in Indian Navy

INS Kalvari (S 21)

14 Dec 2017

INS Khanderi (S 22)

28 Sep 2019

INS Karanj ( S 23 )

10 Mar 2021

INS Vela (S 24)

25 Nov 2021

Read more about INS Visakhapatnam!

INS Kalvari Facts

Some facts related to INS Kalvari are mentioned below:

Diesel-electric submarine

INS Kalvari is a diesel-electric attack submarine designed by the French naval defense and energy company – DCNS- and manufactured by Mazagon Dock Limited, Mumbai.

Weight

The weight of INS Kalvari is 1565 tonnes.

Superior stealth features

INS Kalvari has superior stealth features like

  • Advanced acoustic silencing techniques
  • Low-radiated noise levels
  • Hydrodynamically optimized shape
  • Crippling attack launching abilities using precision-guided weapons

Speed

INS Kalvari has a speed of

  • Surface Speed – 11kn (20km/hr)
  • Submerged Speed – 20 km (37km/hr)

Extensive sea trials

INS Kalvari underwent around 120 days of extensive sea trials and tests for various equipment. Initially, vacuum test and battery loading tests were done. Then the submarine was launched into the sea for sea trials. Its armament strength was also tested with the successful test firing of a torpedo and an Exocet SM39 Block 2 anti-ship missile in the Arabian Sea.

The deadliest submarine

INS Kalvari is one of the six deadliest Scorpene class submarines being built by Mazagon Dock Limited, Mumbai. It is a diesel-electric attack submarine with anti-ship missiles and torpedoes and boasts superior stealth features.

Project-75

INS Kalvari is a part of six Scorpene class submarines being built under Project-75 of the Indian Navy. Under Project 75, the Indian Navy plans to acquire 6 scorpene class diesel-electric attack submarines, which Mazagon Dock Limited, Mumbai, will build.

Read more about the Defence Procurement Procedure!

Way Forward

With the commissioning of INS Vela on 25th November 202, the four submarines of Kalvari Class under Project 75 have been inducted into the Indian Navy. Initiatives under Make in India are boosting India’s self-reliance in the defence sector, and more such indigenous projects need to be planned and promoted to make India strong on all three fronts, whether land, air or sea.

Dear reader, hope you liked the article. The article gives you in-depth information about INS Kalvari- India’s first scorpene class submarine and also enlists currently active submarines of the Indian Navy. For more such interesting articles and to ace your UPSC IAS preparation, download our Testbook App.

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INS Kalvari - FAQs

INS Kalvari is commissioned into the Indian Navy.

No, INS Kalvari is not a nuclear submarine. It is an Attack Submarine of the Scorpene Class of the Indian Navy.

INS Kalvari was constructed at Mazagon Docks Limited, Mumbai India in collaboration with the French builder M/s Naval Group

INS stands for Indian Navy Ship.

Weight of INS Kalvari Submarine is 1565 tonnes.

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