President Murmu Submarine Sortie On INS Vagsheer Signals Strength In India’s Naval Capability

President Droupadi Murmu has become the only Indian president to fly in two fighter jets and now sail in a submarine, marking a rare combination of air and sea sorties that reflects a direct approach to understanding India's defence forces and their operational environment.

With the latest mission, President Murmu is now the first head of state to undertake a sortie on a Kalvari-class submarine and only the second Indian president to travel underwater, after APJ Abdul Kalam, who sailed from Visakhapatnam on February 13, 2006.

President Murmu INS Vagsheer submarine sortie and Indian naval operations

The recent sea sortie took place from the Karwar Naval Base aboard INS Vagsheer (S26), the sixth and final Kalvari-class submarine built for the Indian Navy, where President Murmu, who is the supreme commander of the Indian Armed Forces, was joined by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi and other senior naval officers.

INS Vagsheer is a diesel-electric attack submarine of the Kalvari class, constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in Mumbai under licence from France's Naval Group, and the platform is designed for anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine operations and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions in contested waters.

President Murmu INS Vagsheer submarine sortie and Project-75 details

The submarine carries six weapon-launching tubes and can deploy up to 18 weapons, including torpedoes and missiles, and its induction represents the completion of Project-75, which has been a key step in strengthening India’s undersea capability and enhancing the overall reach of naval power in the Indian Ocean region.

President Murmu's earlier interactions with the military included two high-profile sorties with the Indian Air Force, first in April 2023 at Air Force Station Tezpur in Assam, where Group Captain Naveen Kumar of 106 Squadron piloted a Sukhoi Su-30 MKI, and then on October 29 at Air Force Station Ambala in Haryana, when Group Captain Amit Gehani of 17 Squadron flew a Rafale fighter jet with the president on board.

After completing the Rafale flight from Ambala, President Murmu shared a detailed reaction to the experience, stating, "This first flight on the potent Rafale aircraft has instilled in me a renewed sense of pride in the nation's defence capabilities. It is an unforgettable experience."

By combining frontline sorties in a Sukhoi Su-30 MKI, a Rafale and now INS Vagsheer, President Murmu has highlighted India's expanding air and maritime strength while drawing attention to Project-75's completion and the operational readiness of the Kalvari-class fleet, placing the armed forces at the centre of national focus.