INS Sindhudhvaj:
The Indian Navy decommissioned its Kilo class Submarine, INS Sindhudhvaj from its service at Vishakapatnam after 35 years of service.
- With its decommissioned Navy has left with only 15 conventional submarines in service
- It was commissioned into the Indian Navy in June 1987.
- It was one of the 10 Kilo-class submarines, India acquired from Russia between 1986 and 2000.
- It had many firsts to her credit including operationalization of the indigenized sonar USHUS, Indigenised Satellite Communication systems Rukmani and MSS, Inertial Navigation System, and Indigenised Torpedo Fire Control System.
- It also successfully undertook mating and personnel transfer with Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel.
- It was the only submarine awarded the CNS Rolling trophy for Innovation by the Prime Minister.
- With its decommissioning Navy’s sub-surface fleet now includes seven Russian Kilo-class submarines, four German HDW submarines, four French Scorpene submarines, and the indigenous nuclear ballistic missile submarine INS Arihant.
- Further, the last two of the Scorpene class submarines are in various stages of trials and outfitting.
- There are efforts being implemented like the construction of six advanced submarines under Project-75I but it has been delayed.
- Project-75I envisages the indigenous construction of submarines equipped with the state-of-the-art Air Independent Propulsion system at an estimated cost of Rs. 43,000 crores.
