Indian President Droupadi Murmu has taken a spin on the country’s latest Kalavari-class submarine.
She observed operations drills while aboard the indigenously-built INS Vagsheer, the Indian Navy said in a statement on Sunday.
”President Droupadi Murmu, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, undertook a maiden dived sortie onboard the indigenous Kalvari Class submarine INS Vaghsheer today, a powerful reaffirmation of the nation's confidence in indigenous submarine construction and the centrality of undersea warfare in safeguarding national maritime interests,” the navy said.
It added, “The embarkation reflects the Supreme Commander's continued engagement with the Defence Forces in an operational environment and also highlights the submarine arm as a cornerstone of credible deterrence and maritime security.”
Murmu, who was accompanied by India’s naval chief, Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, became the first Indian president to board a submarine after APJ Abdul Kalam.
During the two-hour cruise, Murmu interacted with the crew of the Vaghsheer.
The ship is the sixth submarine built under the French-designed P75 Scorpene project. It was commissioned by the Indian Navy in January.
New Delhi has a target to expand its naval fleet to over 200 warships and submarines by 2035, with the possibility of reaching 230 by 2037.
The South Asian nation has also encouraged defense firms from friendly countries to partner with Indian arms manufacturers to bolster its ‘Make in India’ initiative.
The Indian Navy commissioned an anti-submarine shallow-water ship for coastal patrols, the INS Mahe, in November.
At present, 54 vessels are under construction in Indian shipyards. The Indian Navy expects all the vessels to be operational by 2030.