Underwater Warriors: Inside the Capabilities of India's Newest Kalvari-Class Submarine

Summary: In 2023, the Indian Navy bolstered its maritime defense with the induction of INS Vagir, the fifth Kalvari-class submarine, enhancing capabilities in anti-surface warfare, intelligence, and surveillance. Developed under Project-75, this class is an adaptation of the French Scorpene-class, realized through collaboration between French and Indian shipyards. The Kalvari-class, aiming to replace older Indian submarines, is known for its advanced technology, including the SUBTICS combat system, Thales sonar suite, and Exocet missiles, ensuring formidable underwater prowess. Amidst growing regional tensions, particularly with China and Pakistan’s naval expansions, India’s Kalvari-class submarines emerge as a strategic counter, reinforcing India's presence in the Indian Ocean.

The History of the Kalvari-Class Submarines

In 2023, the Indian Navy received the fifth submarine of its Kalvari-class. INS Vagir officially entered service in late January, where it began conducting various missions, including anti-surface warfare, mine laying, intelligence gathering, and surveillance missions.

The Kalvari-class, constructed under Project-75, is an export variant of the French-designed Scorpene-class submarine. The subs are being built by a syndicate of both French and Indian shipyards.

INS Vagsheer, the last planned Kalvari ship to be launched, is expected to enter service next month. Equipped with sophisticated sensors and a formidable weapons package, India’s new submarine-class may serve as an important counter to the Chinese Navy’s growing presence in the Indian Ocean.

The Kalvari-class was conceptualized over two decades ago as a replacement for India’s aging Sindhughosh and Shishuar-class submarines. In 1997, India’s Ministry of Defense first approved the procurement of two Type 209/1500 attack submarines.

Two years later, the French-based Thomson-CSF agreed to participate in the design and production process, and by the end of the decade, a two-phase plan to construct two dozen submarines over 30 years was approved. The lead ship of the submarine class, INS Kalvari, was launched in 2015, followed by INS Khanderi, INS Jaranj, INS Vela, and INS Vagir.

Specs & Capabilities

The Kalvari ships have a submerged displacement of 1,550 tons and can accommodate 24-31 crew members. These submarines feature a range of advanced technologies, including DCNS’ SUBTICS integrated combat system, which simplifies the operation and control of all on-board weapons, sensors, and radar.

Armament-wise, the Kalvari ships are quite lethal. Each submarine in this class is equipped with six torpedo launching tubes, 18 heavy weapons, precision-guided weapons and MBDA SM-39 Exocet anti-ship missiles.

Sensor-wise, the Kalvari-class is equally well-equipped.

As detailed by Naval Technology, “The Thales-developed on-board S-CUBE integrated and modular submarine sonar suite offers increased safety against a wide variety of threats in deep or coastal waters. It comprises sonar arrays, including bow, stern, planar flank, intercept, distributed, towed and active, as well as mine and obstacle avoidance sonar, and self-noise-monitoring hydrophones.”

The Kalvari submarines are also fitted with Sagem surveillance and radars, which gives them the ability to detect and identify surface targets. Each ship in the Kalvari class is able to remain submerged for three weeks at speeds in excess of 20 knots, thanks to the incorporation of conventional diesel-electric propulsion systems.

Regional Threats are Rising:

The introduction of the Kalvari-class ships came as China and Pakistan continued to strengthen their respective naval capabilities. Additionally, Beijing is in the process of delivering eight new submarines to Islamabad.

The Hangor-class diesel-electric attack submarines are being constructed in a joint partnership between the Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works and the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation for Pakistan’s Navy.

New Delhi’s growing submarine capabilities, expanding via its Kalvari-class, will serve as a critical deterrent to China and Pakistan.

About the Author: Maya Carlin 

Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. 

Image Credit: Creative Commons.