INS Sindhudhvaj retired after 35 years; India faces submarine shortfall

The 10 Kilo-class submarines that India bought from Russia between 1986 and 2000 are now down to seven conventional boats, as the navy calls submarines

At sunset on Saturday, with an overcast sky adding to the solemnity of the occasion, the decommissioning pennant of Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sindhudhvaj was lowered and the Kilo-class submarine retired after 35 years of distinguished service.

Demonstrating the esprit de corps of the submarine arm, the decommissioning was attended by 15 of the Sindhudhvaj’s former commanding officers (COs), including the Commissioning CO – Commodore S P Singh (retired) – and by 26 veterans of the commissioning crew.

With the retirement of INS Sindhudhvaj, the 10 Kilo-class submarines that India bought from Russia between 1986 and 2000 are now down