NEW DELHI • India yesterday launched the third of its six Scorpene-class submarines being built in Mumbai in collaboration with French firm Naval Group, previously known as DCNS.

The INS Karanj, reported local media, will undergo year-long tests before being commissioned for use by the Indian navy.

According to state-owned Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL), the Scorpene submarines have superior stealth features, such as advanced acoustic silencing techniques, low radiated noise levels and a hydrodynamically optimised shape.

The submarines are also able to launch a crippling attack using precision guided weapons. "The attack can be launched with both torpedoes and tube launched anti-ship missiles, whilst underwater or on the surface," said MDL.

The six submarines are intended to modernise India's ageing submarine fleet and boost its combat abilities in the face of a strong Chinese naval presence in the Indian Ocean, reported the Economic Times.

The Scorpene submarines can undertake various missions such as anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine-laying and area surveillance, said MDL.

India signed the US$3.5 billion construction and transfer-of-technology deal for the six vessels in October 2005, reported news agency Xinhua. The first submarine, INS Kalvari, was commissioned by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Dec 14 last year. The second, INS Khandari, was launched in January last year and is currently undergoing sea trials.