The Indian Minister of State for Defence set the fifth Scorpene class submarine 'Vagir' to sails in an inauguratory event at Mumbai's Mazgaon Dock on Thursday. The launch was conducted by a video conference from Goa in the presence of top naval officers and other dignitaries, including officials from the Naval Group, France, reported Indian media. 

This ship is a part of the six Kalvari-class submarines designed by French naval defence and energy company DCNS. The Scorpene-class submarines are being manufactured indigenously by the Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) in Mumbai as part of the Indian navy's Project 75.

Scorpenes are designed to have an additional air-independent propulsion besides the regular diesel propulsion, and this makes them efficient to undertake all anti-surface as well as anti-submarine warfare. INS Vagir is built with the state-of-art technology which ensures 'stealth features' including advanced acoustic absorption techniques, low radiated noise levels and hydro-dynamically optimised shape and also the ability to attack the enemy using precision guided weapons.

This penultimate submarine of Project 75 is named after the Sand Fish, a deadly deep sea predator of the Indian Ocean as it can commission an attack with both torpedoes and tube launched anti-ship missiles, whilst underwater or on surface. Her invulnerability arises from its specially designed underwater characteristics that make it stand apart from most submarines. Officials have stated that this modern submarine will be commissioned to service in a year's time.