Russian N-sub to arrive in India in second half of 2010

Russia will lease its latest Akula-II class K-152 'Nerpa' nuclear-powered attack submarine to India for a period of ten years sometime in the second half of 2010, the official Itar-Tass news agency quoted an unnamed Russian defence ministry official as saying on Tuesday.

Akula-II class nuclear submarine

"The lease of the Nerpa nuclear submarine to India for 10 years ... will take place this summer or autumn," the unidentified official told the agency.

The handing over of the 12,000 tonne submarine will take place after both countries sign an agreement of acceptance.

The submarine is to be inducted into the Indian Navy as INS Chakra - the same name as given to an earlier Charlie-II class nuclear submarine leased by India from the erstwhile Soviet Union in the period 1988-91.

The officials also said an Indian crew would visit Russia's military base near the far eastern port of Vladivostok to take the 'Nerpa' out on trial ahead of the official handover.

The handing over of the submarine to the Indian Navy was expected to take place immediately after the submarine was inducted into the Russian Navy after completion of its sea trial in December 2009. The delay is now being attributed to rectification of flaws discovered in course of the trials.