Tag Archives: Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL)

Navy

Project 17A frigate

According to Naval News, India’s shipbuilder Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) launched the fifth Nilgiri-class (Project 17A) frigate for the Indian Navy, at its shipyard in Mumbai.

INS Taragiri
INS Taragiri which was launched on 11 September, 2022 is the 3rd frigate built by MDL and fifth ship in the class overall (Indian MoD picture)

Following the Government of India declaring a state-mourning on 11 September, 2022 (in relation to the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II), the event was limited to a technical launch (launching of vessels at the MDL shipyard is tide dependent, any change in the schedule was not possible).

Seven P17A Frigates are under various stages of construction at MDL and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE). INS Taragiri which was launched on 11 September, 2022 is the 5th frigate built by GRSE. It is named after the mountain range in the state of Uttarakhand. The 4th ship-in-class was launched by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) in Kolkata in July this year. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) laid the keel of the 7th and final ship in late June 2022.

The Nilgiri-class frigate or Project 17A is a follow-on of the Project 17 Shivalik-class frigate for the Indian Navy. The frigates are built with extensive use of low-observability technologies, including new radar-absorbing coatings, composite materials and «faceted» shape superstructures.

The ship will be fitted with a 76-mm main gun, two 30-mm AK-630M anti-aircraft artillery systems, two torpedo tubes, launchers for eight BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and 32 Barak-8 surface to air missiles. Its main radar will be the MF-STAR by IAI.

Navy

Final Scorpène Submarine

Indian shipbuilder Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) on April 20, 2022 launched INS Vagsheer (S-26), the final Scorpène type submarine for the Indian Navy.

INS Vagsheer (S-26)
Launch ceremony for INS Vaghseer (S-26), at the MDL shipyard in Mumbai (Naval Group picture)

The submarine was launched by India’s Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar. Named after sandfish, a deadly deep water sea predator of the Indian Ocean, the first submarine «Vagsheer» was commissioned in December 1974. It was decommissioned in April 1997.

«INS Vagsheer (S-26) will now go undergo sea trials and will be later commissioned. The launch of this submarine is an example of India becoming self-reliant», said India’s Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar.

Four of the six submarines have been commissioned to date: INS Kalvari (S-21) (December 2017), INS Khanderi (S-22) (September 2019), INS Karanj (S-23) (March 2021) and INS Vela (S-24) (November 2021). Sea trials of the INS Vagir (S-25) are underway. The final submarine, INS Vagsheer is expected to be delivered to the Indian Navy in March 2024.

Scorpène is a conventional submarine designed by the Naval Group for the export market. It demonstrates both the Naval Group’s ability to deliver best-in-class submarines and to conduct successful transfers of technology. Today 14 Scorpène submarines are in operational service or being built, for the Chilean Navy (2 units), the Malaysian Navy (2 units), the Indian Navy (6 units), and the Brazilian Navy (4 units).

The Scorpène design is adapted to fit each navy’s specific requirements. Thus, the Brazilian Scorpène is slightly longer to carry a larger crew, almost double the patrol range, and be able to cover greater distances.

Scorpène is ideally suited for action and operational effectiveness. Robust and enduring, it’s an ocean-going submarine also designed for shallow waters operations. Multipurpose, it fulfills the entire scope of missions such as anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, special operations, offensive minelaying and intelligence gathering. Integrating improvements from the French Barracuda-Class fast-attack submarine, Scorpène has cutting-edge capabilities.

Navy

Fourth Scorpene Submarine

According to information published by United News of India on November 9, 2021, the fourth Scorpene class submarine, which has been named INS Vela (S-24) was delivered to the Indian Navy.

INS Vela (S-24)
INS Vela (S-24) during sea trials

The Scorpene-class submarines are 2000 tons conventional-propulsion submarines designed and developed by Naval Group for all types of mission, such as surface vessel warfare, anti-submarine warfare, long-range strikes, special operations, or intelligence gathering.

The class has two diesel generation sets providing 1,250 kW/1,676 hp of power. At the top of the hull immediately above the diesel generator sets is a Dutch Breach machinery shipping hatch. The submarine has an elastically supported 2,900 kW/3,889 hp electronic engine.

The submarines can carry 18 torpedoes and missiles or 30 mines. It is equipped with six bow-located 21-inch/533-mm torpedo tubes providing salvo launch capability. Positive discharge launching is by an air turbine pump. She can launch anti-ship and anti-submarine torpedoes, as well as anti-surface missiles. The handling and loading of weapons are automated.