Russia To Lease Two Nuclear Submarines To India

MOSCOW, Dec 7 (Bernama)-- India will get two Shchuka-B class nuclear submarines from Russia on lease and an Indian crew has already arrived here for training as part of the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov deal, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported, quoting local press Wednesday.

Two 'Shchuka-B', also known as Akula, are at different stages of construction since the collapse of Soviet Union and could be leased to India for ten years in estimated US$1.8 billion deal after their simultaneous completion.

Due to slippage in the indigenous Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project for the development of S-2 nuclear submarine, India is leasing the two submarines as part of the package deal on the acquisition of Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier.

It said that about 200 Indian naval officers have arrived in Russia in October for a course at Russian nuclear submarine fleet's North-West training centre at Sosnovy Bor near St. Petersburg, the report quoted.

India earlier had received Charlie class K-43 nuclear submarine from ex-Soviet Union, which was known as INS Chakra, on lease.

It said at that time Indian crew did not have access to the reactor of INS Chakra, which was manned by the Soviet naval personnel.

The daily also said that Moscow is helping India in designing the nuclear reactor for the ATV, which resembles Russian submarine of Project 09710 'Samara' class (NATO code name Akula-II).

Source