Murmu Embarks on Submarine Sortie at Karwar Naval Base
Chief of Naval Staff Dinesh K. Tripathi accompanied the President during the sortie onboard the indigenous Kalvari-class submarine, which sailed from the Karwar naval base in Karnataka. The President is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces
NEW DELHI: President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday undertook a sortie onboard the Indian Navy’s frontline submarine INS Vaghsheer on the western seaboard.
Murmu became the second President to experience a submarine sortie. In February 2006, former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was the first to do so.
Chief of Naval Staff Dinesh K. Tripathi accompanied the President during the sortie onboard the indigenous Kalvari-class submarine, which sailed from the Karwar naval base in Karnataka. The President is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
In a social media post, the President’s Secretariat said President Murmu undertook a dived sortie onboard INS Vaghsheer and was briefed on the role of the submarine arm in India’s maritime strategy, as well as its operational capabilities and contribution to safeguarding national maritime interests.
The statement added that the President interacted with the crew and commended their dedication, commitment, and spirit of selfless service. She described the indigenous submarine as a shining example of the Indian Navy’s professional excellence, combat preparedness, and unwavering commitment to national security.
The President, dressed in a naval uniform, waved to naval personnel before entering the submarine. INS Vaghsheer, the sixth and final submarine under the Project 75 Scorpene programme, was commissioned into the Indian Navy in January. Navy officials said it is among the most silent and versatile diesel-electric submarines in the world.
The submarine is designed for a wide range of missions, including anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, area surveillance, and special operations. It is equipped with wire-guided torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, and advanced sonar systems, and features modular construction to enable future upgrades such as the integration of air-independent propulsion technology.
The Indian Navy is developing the Karwar naval base as part of its long-term security strategy in the Indian Ocean region.
