Apart from the major defence deals signed during the India-Russia summit, Russia has agreed to lease a second nuclear attack submarine to India. The deal is purportedly worth $2 billion.

This agreement, which was not made public, was signed on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Goa last weekend with other major defence deals such as the S-400 Triumf air defence systems, the joint venture of Kamov helicopters and frigates, worth billions of dollars.

A report written by Alexei Nikolski, a columnist with a Russian daily Vedomosti reads, “According to a person in the Russian defence ministry, the long discussed lease to transfer a multipurpose Project 971 nuclear submarine to India from the Russian Navy was signed in Goa.”

The Defence Ministry did not comment on the matter.

Earlier India had received a nuclear submarine of this type- Project 971 also known as Akula-II- on lease from Russia. The Indian Navy currently operates this Akula-II class submarine called INS Chakra.

The INS Chakra is a 8,140 tonne nuclear powered attack submarine. India had sponsored the building and sea trials of the submarine provided it was given to the Indian Navy on lease for 10 years. It was launched as K-152 Nerpa in October 2008 and entered service with the Russian Navy in 2009. The submarine was leased to the Indian Navy in 2011. Chakra was commissioned into the Indian Navy in April, 2012.

Source : economictimes.indiatimes.com