Indian Navy to Commission Final Scorpene-Class Sub INS Vagsheer and New Stealth Ships in 2025

The Indian Navy is poised to significantly enhance its maritime capabilities in early 2025 with the commissioning of two key vessels: the final Scorpene-class submarine, INS Vagsheer, and the first of the new Nilgiri-class stealth frigates.

Originally slated for December 2024, the commissioning of both vessels has been shifted to January 2025, according to sources within the defence establishment.

INS Vagsheer, the sixth and last of the Kalvari-class (Scorpene-class) submarines, marks the culmination of a project initiated in 2005. Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in collaboration with France's Naval Group, these submarines are designed for a variety of missions, including anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, and special operations. Equipped with six weapon-launching tubes and capable of carrying 18 torpedoes or missiles, the Scorpenes bolster India's underwater combat capabilities.

The first Kalvari-class submarine, INS Kalvari, was inducted into the Indian Navy in 2017. Notably, MDL is also slated to build three more Scorpene-class submarines for the Indian Navy under Project 75, with the contract expected to be finalized by next month.

In addition to INS Vagsheer, the Navy will also commission the first of its seven new Nilgiri-class stealth frigates. These advanced warships, also built by MDL, are based on the Shivalik-class frigates but boast improved stealth features, indigenous weapons and sensors, and integrated construction methodology. According to the Ministry of Defence, the P17A frigates offer "improved survivability, sea keeping, stealth and ship manoeuvrability".

These additions to the Indian Navy come amidst growing geopolitical challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. The Scorpene-class submarines and Nilgiri-class frigates are expected to play a crucial role in maintaining sea control, safeguarding vital sea lanes, and ensuring the security of India's maritime borders.

This news comes on the heels of other recent additions to the Indian Navy's fleet. On December 9th, 2024, INS Tushil, a Russian-built frigate, was commissioned into India's Western Fleet. Furthermore, the second Survey Vessel Large (SVL) ship, Nirdeshak, is scheduled to be commissioned on December 18th, 2024. These vessels contribute to India's growing naval strength and its ability to project power in the region.

 

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[beencensured]

Here is the problem: India announces plans to build 6 SSNs, America starts AUKUS and plans to build more submarines at 2+ a year, and China too is developing at the same rate. Now, India changes its mind and says it will build only 2 SSNs at a much higher cost. We are hearing America and China will be popping them out at 2-3 a year in a few years. India whimsically changes its mind after creating an SSN arms race, but others already make a counter to the announcement but never change their minds. The whimsical nature of planning is most shameless. Further, the desire for perfection. The world is competitive, and practicality is most important. Then some recent article says five years to design and five years to build. Why announce the building of SSNs if not designed already? India must compete and grow its economy by producing two submarines a year.

 

[Anant]

Here is the problem: India announces plans to build 6 SSNs, America starts AUKUS and plans to build more submarines at 2+ a year, and China too is developing at the same rate. Now, India changes its mind and says it will build only 2 SSNs at a much higher cost. We are hearing America and China will be popping them out at 2-3 a year in a few years. India whimsically changes its mind after creating an SSN arms race, but others already make a counter to the announcement but never change their minds. The whimsical nature of planning is most shameless. Further, the desire for perfection. The world is competitive, and practicality is most important. Then some recent article says five years to design and five years to build. Why announce the building of SSNs if not designed already? India must compete and grow its economy by producing two submarines a year.

Um, the US wants to build over 2.5 submarines a year on average, though the present average is about 1.7. Under that scenario, Australia getting new Virginia-class SSNs under AUKUS would be difficult. It is speculated they may simply be given the four Block I Virginias instead.

Coming to our SSNs, I agree that a decade isn't ideal when it comes to building SSNs, but unless practically all sub-systems are ready (including the 190 MW reactor), a timeline of less than 8-10 years is highly unlikely.

Oh, and India can build 2 submarines a year. However, that'll require an order of 50-ish boats at a minimum. Where do you suppose we get the money for those?

 

[desigandu]

Good. Logistics and supply chain question of our industrial base: Does MDL have the concurrent capability to build the 3 additional Scorpenes, upgrade the existing 6 Scorpenes with AIP, and also build 6 P75Is along with potential P18s orders, all around the 2028-2040 timeframe? Do they have the physical capacity, or is that in advanced stages of commissioning? Any insights and logical thoughts are welcome!

 

[desigandu]

Um, the US wants to build over 2.5 submarines a year on average, though the present average is about 1.7. Under that scenario, Australia getting new Virginia-class SSNs under AUKUS would be difficult. It is speculated they may simply be given the four Block I Virginias instead.

Coming to our SSNs, I agree that a decade isn't ideal when it comes to building SSNs, but unless practically all sub-systems are ready (including the 190 MW reactor), a timeline of less than 8-10 years is highly unlikely.

Oh, and India can build 2 submarines a year. However, that'll require an order of 50-ish boats at a minimum. Where do you suppose we get the money for those?

Agreed in terms of budget and requirements for today but the future should be driven by a formal NSS…

I still think our ship and sub building is very adhoc and would like to see long term builds (block concept) at least for SSKs, frigates, destroyers and corvettes say of at least 12-24 in a class over a period of time…I think with P17Bs, NGC, NGD and P76s programs we may get closer to that reality…Only the Americans and Chinese have such long term programs with their large budgets and volume builds, which is something we should adopt for a larger, more capable but also a more standardized navy…

Navy is the poster child of planning amongst our services, but unfortunately has always been deprived of funding, though some of that is getting corrected now…

Out of the major naval components - float, move and fight we are almost there in float, should be there in move once local production/assembly is enhanced for gas turbines and diesels, and we develop IEC, but in fight especially for sensors we have ways to go, whilest in missiles we should be there by 2035…

Another major challenge i see going forward is disparate systems that must be standardized with domestic capability to reduce operational cost and supply chain problems, especially during major refits…

I am confident around 2035 our navy will be in good shape, though I really worry about is IAF, where we are staring at the abyss, though hopeful that we will get somewhat better by 2030…

 

[Rational Guy]

Um, the US wants to build over 2.5 submarines a year on average, though the present average is about 1.7. Under that scenario, Australia getting new Virginia-class SSNs under AUKUS would be difficult. It is speculated they may simply be given the four Block I Virginias instead.

Coming to our SSNs, I agree that a decade isn't ideal when it comes to building SSNs, but unless practically all sub-systems are ready (including the 190 MW reactor), a timeline of less than 8-10 years is highly unlikely.

Oh, and India can build 2 submarines a year. However, that'll require an order of 50-ish boats at a minimum. Where do you suppose we get the money for those?

Also what the dude above doesn't know is that we have capability to build 2 nuclear subs a year, we have one line for S5 class now and another one iirc.

Previously you asked me why S5 will come by 2034/2035. There was a very detailed article about India's nuke sub program on strategic frontier forum. Take a look at it it details a lot of things.

 

[Rational Guy]

Good. Logistics and supply chain question of our industrial base: Does MDL have the concurrent capability to build the 3 additional Scorpenes, upgrade the existing 6 Scorpenes with AIP, and also build 6 P75Is along with potential P18s orders, all around the 2028-2040 timeframe? Do they have the physical capacity, or is that in advanced stages of commissioning? Any insights and logical thoughts are welcome!

Don't know about them but our ship building center at Vizag can now build 2 nuclear subs at the same time.

 

[desigandu]

Don't know about them but our ship building center at Vizag can now build 2 nuclear subs at the same time.

Good - I think as far as SSBNs go we should be good by 2035, hopefully 2+ SSNs in service by 2040, though we need 6 quickly!

Our other shipyards need to scale up and invest for faster and concurrent shipbuilding which requires investment driven by large volumes, which mostly come from civilian ships as is being done by China, Japan and South Korea which we should replicate…

Even the US is struggling with shipbuilding for it navy, given the hollowing out of its industrial capacity to China…

 

[desigandu]

Also what the dude above doesn't know is that we have capability to build 2 nuclear subs a year, we have one line for S5 class now and another one iirc.

Previously you asked me why S5 will come by 2034/2035. There was a very detailed article about India's nuke sub program on strategic frontier forum. Take a look at it it details a lot of things.

I don’t think we can build 2 nuclear subs per year! is it 2 nuclear subs per year or we can build 2 subs at the same time - big difference logistically and capacity wise…