Karwar, 28 Dec

President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday undertook a dived sortie aboard the Indian Navy’s indigenously built frontline submarine INS Vaghsheer off the Western seaboard.

Accompanied by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Murmu also the Supreme Commander of the armed forces boarded the Kalvari-class submarine from the Karwar naval base in Karnataka.

She is the second Indian President to undertake a submarine sortie, after APJ Abdul Kalam in February 2006 aboard INS Sindhu Rakshak. "President Droupadi Murmu undertook a dive sortie on the Western Seaboard aboard INS Vaghsheer," the President's Secretariat said.

She was briefed on the submarine arm’s role in India’s maritime strategy, its operational capabilities, and contributions to safeguarding national maritime interests. While interacting with the crew, Murmu commended their dedication, commitment, and spirit of selfless service, and lauded the indigenous submarine as a "shining example" of the Navy’s professional excellence, combat readiness, and unwavering commitment to national security.

INS Vaghsheer, the sixth and final submarine of the P75 Scorpene project, was commissioned in January. Described by Navy officials as one of the world’s most silent and versatile diesel-electric submarines, it was launched on 20 April 2022 and has completed successful sea trials. Vaghsheer joins its sister vessels INS Kalvari, INS Khanderi, INS Karanj, INS Vela, and INS Vagir, commissioned between December 2017 and January 2023.

In October, Murmu took a sortie in a Rafale fighter jet from the Indian Air Force Station in Ambala, becoming the first President of India to fly in two different fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF). Previously, she undertook a sortie in a Sukhoi 30 MKI in April 2023 from Tezpur in Assam. Agencies