Mumbai: Vagsheer, the last of the Scorpene-class submarines, has been launched by Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar here on Wednesday.
Post-launch, the submarine will undergo a comprehensive and rigorous set of tests and trials for more than a year.
‘Vagsheer’ was commissioned in December 1974 and decommissioned in April 1997.
The submarines have a length of 67.5 metres, height of 12.3 metres and the beam measures 6.2 metres. They can reach a top speed of 20 knots when submerged and a top speed of 11 knots when she surfaces.
The Scorpene-class submarines have four MTU 12V 396 SE84 diesel engines, 360 battery cells, for power and a silent Permanently Magnetised Propulsion Motor. The hull, fin and hydroplanes are designed for minimum underwater resistance and all equipment inside the pressure hull is mounted on shock-absorbing cradles for enhanced stealth. They can do offensive operations across the entire spectrum of naval warfare including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying and area surveillance.
