NEW DELHI: The year 2017 will be the year for submarine, as Indian navy will commissioned two of its long-awaited Scorpene class submarine by year end and third submarine will be launched for sea trial in ext 11 months.
But, these underwater warships will be operational without torpedoes, as the ministry of defence is struggling to find solution after it scrapped Finmeccanica’s contract for ‘Black Shark’ torpedoes. Sources indicated that ministry might go for German heavy weight torpedoes. Torpedoes are self-propelled weapons with explosives packed in their nose. They are a submarine's primary weapon to destroy their targets.
Navy sources also maintained that navy will put some alternate torpedoes available as an interim measure.
According to navy, INS Kalvari, the first of the Scorpene class is likely to be commissioned before monsoon while the second submarine INS Khanderi could be commissioned by December this year or early next year.
Meanwhile, another submarine INS Sindhuraj will go to Russia for Medium Refit with Life Certification (MRLC) in mid-2017, which will enhance its life for the next few year. The submarine was inducted in the Indian navy in 1992.
Another submarine INS Sindhukesri, which was commissioned in 1986, is undergoing a similar refit process.
The submarine arm of navy is celebrating its golden jubilee this year, as in the year 1967, India got its first submarine from Russia was inducted named as INS Kalvari, Foxtrot class submarine.