Video: India's indigenously built second scorpene submarine Khanderi launched in Mumbai: 10 key features

The second of Kalvari Class submarines Khanderi(Yard 11876) was launched at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai on Thursday.

The ceremony at Mazgaon Dock, in which the submarine will be set afloat from the pontoons, was attended by Union Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre.

India is among few countries in the world which produce conventional submarines. Six submarines are being built at MDL in collaboration with DCNS of France.

Second Scorpene class submarine Khanderi launched in Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/g7mEhOA560

— ANI (@ANI_news) January 12, 2017

Below are some of the top key features of Khanderi submarine -

# The submarine will undergo rigorous trials till December, both in the harbour and at sea, on the surface and underwater.

# After the trials, she will be commissioned into the Indian Navy as INS Khanderi.

# The six Scorpene-class submarines are part of the extensive plans to modernize the Indian Navy.

# This first of the six Scorpene-Class submarines, Kalvari, will be commissioned later this year.

# The other four submarines are expected follow after Khanderi at nine-month intervals.

# The Navy currently has 13 ageing diesel-electric submarines, only half of which are operational at a time. The rest are unavailable due to repair works.

# The 30-year plans to modernise the Navy involve the construction of 24 submarines, both nuclear and conventional.

# Defence minister has said India needs a plan with a longer term, which will cover the country till 2050. The current plan ends in 2030.

# The country's first indigenously built nuclear submarine, INS Arihant - loaded with nuclear-tipped missiles and headed for sea trials this month - was commissioned in October 2016.

# India joined the exclusive group of submarine building nations in 1992 with the commissioning of INS Shalki.