India to pay INR 1.65 Kharab for lease of Akula class nuclear attack submarine
Russia and India are finalizing delivery of a nuclear SSGN after roughly a decade of talks.
India will pay about INR 1.65 kharab to lease a nuclear-powered attack submarine from Russia. This is going to be an advanced Akula type attack submarine.
Indian Navy expects to receive the submarine within two years, while the lease term will be 10 years, the sources said.
Advanced Akula SSGNs or AKula4 are 13000 tons nuclear-powered attack submarines known for their stealth, speed (up to 35 knots), and armament, which includes torpedoes and cruise missiles. These submarines can operate at depths of 520 meters and feature a double hull design for improved buoyancy.
Recent developments, such as AI integration and modernization, enhance their capabilities in areas like anti-submarine warfare and strategic strike operations.
Akula Powered by a 190 MW OK-650B pressurized water nuclear reactor, have a top submerged speed of up to 35 knots. They are designed with a double hull and equipped with anechoic tiles, they are known for being very quiet, with the Akula II and III variants being much more silent than the American Seawolf-class submarines. The crew complement ranges from 62 to 73, depending on the variant.
According to the terms of the lease, the Russian leased submarine would help India train sailors and refine nuclear SSGN operations as it builds its own vessels, the first of which are like to join the Navy by 2035.
The Russian Akula is going to be named INS Chakra 3 which under normal condition will not be used in war with any country.
Earlier India had leased Russia’s Project 971 Nerpa nuclear-powered submarine, commissioned as INS Chakra2 by the Indian Navy, from 2012 to 2021and before that it was INS Chakra 1.
It may be more prudent for India to get a second nuclear SSGN too on lease and extend the lease for both to 15 years, so that by 2036 we have four SSGNs ( two indigenous ) operating with the Indian Navy along with 7 to 10 SSBNs.Ideally to safeguard the Indian Ocean Region the Navy needs 24 SSGNs and to ensure intercontinental level assured Second strike deterrence capability around 12 SSBNs are required.
