On Sunday, President Droupadi Murmu embarked on a sortie aboard the Indian Navy’s indigenously built frontline submarine INS Vaghsheer off the western coast. Murmu is the second President to make a submarine sortie. J Abdul Kalam took part in a submarine sortie aboard the INS Sindhu Rakshak in February 2006.
Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of Naval Staff, accompanied President Murmu, who is also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, on the sortie in the Kalvari class submarine from Karwar naval base in Karnataka, according to officials.
Before entering the submarine, the President waved to navy men while dressed in a naval uniform. She also spoke with the crew of the INS Vaghsheer, praising their dedication and describing the indigenous submarine as a shining example of the Indian Navy’s professional competence and combat readiness. “President Droupadi Murmu conducted a dive sortie on the Western Seaboard aboard INS Vaghsheer,” the President’s Secretariat stated.
It stated that the President was briefed on the submarine arm’s position in India’s maritime strategy, as well as its operational capabilities and contributions to the protection of national maritime interests. Murmu praised the crew of INS Vaghsheer for their dedication, commitment, and attitude of selfless duty, according to the statement.
“She said that this indigenous submarine is a shining example of the Indian Navy’s professional excellence, combat preparedness and unwavering commitment to national security,” according to the secretariat’s social media accounts.
INS Vaghsheer, the sixth and final submarine in the P75 Scorpene project, was commissioned into the Navy in January. Navy officials describe it as one of the world’s most silent and adaptable diesel-electric submarines. It is intended to perform a variety of duties, including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, information gathering, area surveillance, and special operations. The Indian Navy is building the Karwar station in light of India’s long-term security interests in the Indian Ocean region.
Murmu flew a sortie in a Rafale fighter jet from the Indian Air Force Station in Ambala in October, making him the first Indian President to fly in two separate fighter aircraft. She previously flew a sortie in a Sukhoi 30 MKI from Tezpur, Assam, in April 2023.
