INS Vagsheer (S26)

INS Vagsheer (S26) is an Indian Navy Kalvari-class diesel-electric attack submarine. It is the sixth submarine of the class, which is based on the Scorpène-class submarine designed by French naval defence and energy company DCNS (now Naval Group). "INS" stands for Indian Naval Ship.

Vagsheer is named after the sand fish, a deep-sea predator of the Indian Ocean, and also honors the erstwhile INS Vagsheer (S43), a Vela-class submarine that served the Indian Navy from 1974 to 1997. The new Vagsheer incorporates advanced technologies compared to its predecessor.

The submarine is built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai under a technology transfer agreement with Naval Group. Its capabilities include anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, surveillance, and area denial. It is equipped with advanced sonar and combat management systems.

The launch of INS Vagsheer (S26) occurred in April 2022. Following its launch, it underwent extensive sea trials before being commissioned into the Indian Navy. Its induction significantly enhances India's underwater warfare capabilities and contributes to maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region.