Scorpene-class sumbarine Kalvari starts sea trials, induction expected by September
She is the first of the six Scorpene-class sumbarines to be built in India.
The first of the Scorpene class submarines, Kalvari, to be manufactured by India had her day out at sea on Sunday. Her first date with the waters of Arabian sea lasted for seven hours – from 10 am to 5 pm.
The sea trial was meant mainly to check the submarine's navigation and propulsion systems. "Kalvari, the first of the Scorpene class submarines, built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, went to sea for the first time today," said an official. This is the first submarine built in India under transfer of technology from DCNS, France. "During the sortie, it completed a number of preliminary tests on the propulsion systems, auxiliary equipment and systems, navigation aid, communication equipment and steering gear," a naval officer said.
The sea trials are a follow-up of harbour trials conducted within the harbour – with and without assistance or using its own propulsion systems. During Sunday's trial, certain standard operating procedures were also validated."During the next few months, Kalvari will undergo a barrage of sea trials, including surface trials, diving trials, weapon trials, noise trials etc, which would test the submarine to the extremes of its intended operating envelop," said an officer. Only after the successful completion of these battery of tests, will she be formally inducted into the naval fleet as INS Kalvari. This is expected to be in September.
On April 6, 2015, defence minister Manohar Parrikar undocked the vessel at Mazagon Dock. This was followed by first harbour trials on October 28.
Under the Scorpene project, India plans to build six submarines. The remaining five will be delivered every nine months. The project is expected to be completed by 2020. Kalvari will be able to undertake multifarious modern missions like anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying, area surveillance, etc.
India had joined the exclusive group of submarine- constructing nations on February 7, 1992, with INS Shalki. It is still in service with the Indian Navy.
TRIALS & CHRONOLOGY
Box out trials – Manufacturing stage before undockingFitting out trials – Equipment fitment & its validationHarbour trial – Basic trialHull Inspection – After harbour trial to check for defects and faultsSea Trial – With independent propulsion, navigation systemsDiving Trials – Going deep and not just sailing on surfaceSea acceptance trial – Every system, including torpedoes and sonars, to be operated at sea,Firing Trials – Weapon firingThe Scorpène-class submarines are a class of diesel-electric attack submarines jointly developed by the French DCN and Spanish company Navantia and now by DCNS, a French company. It features diesel propulsion and an additional air-independent propulsion (AIP).Air-independent propulsion (AIP) is any marine propulsion technology that allows a non-nuclear submarine to operate without access to atmospheric oxygen (by surfacing or using a snorkel). AIP can augment or replace the diesel-electric propulsion system of non-nuclear vessels.