In a first, Indian Navy’s INS Vagir marks historic deployment to Australia

New Delhi: In a historic milestone, the Indian Navy’s INS Vagir, a Scorpene-class submarine, has marked its maiden deployment to Australia, underscoring India’s naval prowess on the global stage. Departing in June on an extended-range mission, the submarine reached the shores of Fremantle on August 20.

At the same time, on Australia’s east coast, Indian naval vessels and aircraft are actively participating in Exercise Malabar 23. This joint maneuver, featuring Australia, Japan, and the US, demonstrates a robust display of maritime cooperation. Subsequently, these forces are slated to engage in AUSINDEX 23 from August 22 to 24, further solidifying their collective strength.

Indian Navy said, “The ongoing deployment underscores the remarkable operational reach of Indian Navy submarines. This extended-range mission signifies the debut of an Indian Navy submarine’s deployment to Australia, shining a light on our capacity and expertise to carry out sustained operations over extended distances for prolonged periods.”

INS Vagir, the fifth vessel of the Kalvari class, was commissioned in January 2023 and operates from the Western Naval Command in Mumbai. During its stay in Australia, the submarine will participate in diverse exercises with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) on the West Coast. These activities encompass basic, intermediate, and advanced anti-submarine exercises.

Furthermore, interactions with RAN submarines and Indian Naval P-8I aircraft are also scheduled, fostering deeper collaboration and synergy between the two navies.

(Defence Watch– India’s Defence News centre that places the spotlight on Defence Manufacturing, Defence Technology, Strategy and Military affairs is on Twitter. Follow us here and stay updated.)