The Scorpene-class submarine Vela, the fourth of six underwater warships being built in India with French collaboration, was launched in Mumbai on Monday with an aim to boost Indian capability to defend and secure the strategic sea lanes. The Vela submarine will undergo a number of tests conducted by the Navy before it is commissioned in the defence fleet, an official said. Defence production secretary Ajay Kumar’s wife Veena Ajay Kumar launched the submarine at Mazagon Dockyard in Mumbai. The fifth Scorpene-class submarine will be launched soon, an MDL official said. Before Vela, MDL launched Kalvari, Khanderi, Karanj submarines.

Source: The Hindu May 06, 2019 15:11 UTC