The sortie was conducted on INS Vagsheer, an indigenously built Kalvari-class submarine of the Indian Navy, underscoring the country’s growing self-reliance in advanced defence technology. This marked President Murmu’s first-ever operational experience aboard a Kalvari-class submarine, a milestone that places her among a select group of Supreme Commanders to have undertaken such a mission.
Accompanying the President during the sortie was Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, along with senior naval officers, who briefed her on the submarine’s capabilities, operational readiness, and role within India’s maritime defence framework. As the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, the President’s presence on board carried both operational and symbolic weight, reflecting the highest level of civilian oversight and confidence in the Navy’s combat platforms.
Until now, this distinction had been associated with former President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, making President Murmu the first woman to undertake a sortie on a frontline Indian submarine. Naval officials described the event as a moment of pride for the force and a reaffirmation of India’s steady progress in indigenous defence manufacturing under the Kalvari-class programme.
The Indian Navy views the President’s sortie as more than a ceremonial gesture. It highlights the operational maturity of India’s submarine fleet and the success of domestic shipbuilding initiatives that have significantly enhanced undersea warfare capabilities. The Kalvari-class submarines are a critical component of India’s strategic maritime posture, particularly in safeguarding the nation’s interests along vital sea lanes in the Indian Ocean region.
President Murmu’s voyage aboard INS Vagsheer stands as a powerful statement of institutional trust, technological confidence, and evolving leadership symbolism within the Indian Armed Forces, reinforcing India’s commitment to a modern, capable, and self-reliant navy.
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