Russia to hand over n-sub to India mid-November
05 Oct 2011
Moscow: Russia will be leasing a nuclear submarine to India in mid-November, a Russian defence industry source said Tuesday. The K-152 Nerpa (Indian Navy designation: INS Chakra) Schucka-B class nuclear attack submarine is an advanced model with reduced acoustic signatures which make it a potent presence in the sea.
The delivery will make India only the sixth military power in the world to operate nuclear-powered submarines after France, China, Russia, Britain and the United States.
The Nerpa/Chakra was to have been leased in 2008 but the transfer was put on hold after a fatal mishap three years ago, when a freon gas fire suppressant system was accidentally set off.
The $650 million lease contract was signed in 2004. The submarine was lying in dry-dock, partially constructed, until Indian financing revived its construction. The Chakra will be a brand new boat of its class.
The Nerpa has been built by the far eastern Amur Shipyard,
According to sources all the defects "will have been eliminated before November, after which the Nerpa will be transferred to Delhi".