Russia to lease second nuclear sub to India

A source in the Russian defence industry told the ‘Vedomosti’ newspaper that a transfer agreement had been signed to lease a second nuclear submarine of project 971, in the Indian state of Goa. The Indian Navy will get the submarine from those available with the Russian navy, after it undergoes repairs and a detailed upgrade.

The publication does not mention any specific submarine. However, according to "Lenta.ru", the submarine in question is one of the submarines awaiting repairs at the "Zvezdochka" plant in Severodvinsk. Earlier, the media discussed the possibility of transferring to India the nuclear submarine K-322 "Kashalot", which was being repaired in Komsomolsk-on-Amur.

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The first boat of the Project 971 - K-152 "Nerpa", finished in Komsomolsk-on-Amur according to the upgraded project 971I, was transferred to the Indian Navy in 2012. In the Indian Navy, it was named "Chakra," in honour of the submarine project 670, which earlier had that name, and which India leased from the Soviet Union in 1988-1991.

The lease agreement for the second submarine was concluded on the margins of the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as part of a large package of documents on military and technical cooperation. The package provides for the conclusion of contracts for the delivery to India of anti-aircraft missile S-400 systems, Project 11356 frigates and the establishment of production of Ka-226T helicopters. The lease transfer of the Russian nuclear-powered submarine was not widely publicized after the 17^th India-Russia summit held in Goa, prior to the summit of the five BRICS countries.

Admiral Vyacheslav Popov, the former commander of the Northern Fleet, told the National News Service that the second Russian submarine will help India establish a naval reserve.

"India will become a fighting unit with high capacity. This is of direct benefit for the country's defence, as the two submarines have dual capacity," the Admiral said.

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"This will allow them to have one submarine in the reserve taking into account the necessary repairs. That is, only one of them is undergoing repairs, the second one is in the line of duty,” said the Admiral.

At the same time, Popov said, India would get direct benefits for the country's defence.

"India has acquired a fighting unit with high capacity. This is of direct benefit for the country's defence, as the two submarines will provide dual capacity," Admiral Popov said.

Reports in the Indian media suggested that the submarine would be available for service with the Indian Navy after the refit, by 2020.

First published in Russian by Lenta.ru.

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