Indian Navy chief Admiral Karambir Singh onThursday said INS Vela, the fourth Scorpene-class submarine, will play acrucial role in enhancing the Indian Navy's ability to protect the nation'smaritime interests.
Chief of Naval Staff was addressing an eventat the naval dockyard in Mumbai, where INS Vela, the fourth Scorpene-classsubmarine was commissioned into the Indian Navy today.
He also said that the navy is closelymonitoring defence cooperation between China and Pakistan.
"We are closely monitoring the defencecooperation between China and Pakistan. The recent procurements by Pakistanfrom China may change the dynamics, so we need to remain cautious," saidAdmiral Singh.
INS Vela is the fourth submarine in theseries that was launched in May 2019. The first, INS Kalvari, was launched inOctober 2015 and commissioned in December 2017, five years behind schedule. INSKhanderi, the second, was commissioned in September 2019 after its launch inJanuary 2017 for trials. The third, INS Karanj, was launched in January 2018and commissioned on March 10, 2021. INS Vagir, The fifth one, was launched inNovember 2020 and has commenced harbour trials. It is expected to go for itsfirst surface sortie in December. INS Vagsheer, the sixth submarine, is in theadvanced stage of outfitting.
This is also the second major induction inthe Indian Navy in less than a week. On November 21, the navycommissioned warship INS Visakhapatnam.
Earlier this month, China delivered itslargest and most advanced warship to Pakistan as it seeks to beef up the navyof its all-weather ally in the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, where it hasincreased its own naval presence in recent years.