India's brand-new home-made submarine headed out for its first sea trial on Tuesday, a year ahead of its induction into the country's naval fleet as INS Vagir.

The U-boat -- the fifth of the six Scorpene-class submarines -- was built by the state-owned Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) with help from France's Naval Group.

"Despite the pandemic, MDL delivered two submarines of the Project 75 last year. The sea trials of the fifth submarine are a significant milestone," the Indian Navy said in a statement.

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Four submarines of this French-designed class are already in Indian naval service.

The Scorpene-class submarines have superior stealth features and are also equipped with both long-range guided torpedoes as well as anti-ship missiles. 

These submarines can launch anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare due to their low-radiated noise levels and ability to launch crippling attacks with precision-guided weapons.