India to hand over its kilo-class submarine INS Sindhuvir to Myanmar for training purpose

India to hand over its kilo-class submarine INS Sindhuvir to Myanmar for training purpose

• As per the information delivered by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), India has decided to hand over INS Sindhuvir, a Kilo class submarine to the Myanmar Navy by the end of 2020.
• This initiative has been launched under the vision SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region), to guarantee security for all maritime partners and is also in line with India’s commitment to build capacities and self-reliance in all its neighbouring countries.
• The Indian Navy had bought the INS Sindhuvir, a Soviet-origin Kilo-class submarine, from Russia in 1980s and has operated it since 1988.
• It is currently being modernized by the Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in Vizag, after which its service life will be extended by 10-15 years. It will then serve the Myanmar Navy till the 2030s.
• The INS Sindhuvir will be used by the Myanmar Navy for training purposes. It will also be the first-ever submarine for the Myanmar Navy, which is looking at acquiring its own submarine fleet in the coming years.