The Hindu : International : Russia to lease nuclear submarine to India

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 22, 2004

International

International

Russia to lease nuclear submarine to India

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW, OCT. 21. India will take a nuclear-powered submarine from Russia on lease, news agencies reported today.

"Moscow and New Delhi have signed a contract under which the Indian Navy will get a Project 971 multi-role submarine on a 10-year lease," the Interfax news agency said, quoting a military industry source. The submarine, said to be 85 per cent ready, will be handed over to India in 2007.

Earlier reports said that Russia was to lease two nuclear submarines to India.

A Russian media report last week said that the construction of two unfinished Project 971 nuclear submarines, suspended due to the lack of funds, had resumed at the Amur Shipyards in Komsomolsk-on-the-Amur in the Far East after India made an advance payment of $100 million towards the lease contract.

The Project 971 third-generation submarine (NATO code name Akula-II) is the most advanced Russian nuclear attack submarine said to be equal or superior to the U.S. Sea Wolf and modernised Los Angeles-class submarines. The Russian Navy's Akula-II subs are equipped with 28 nuclear-capable cruise missiles with a striking range of 3,000 km. The Indian version is expected to be armed with the 300-km Club nuclear-capable missiles.

During 1988-1991, India leased a second-generation Charlie-class nuclear submarine from Russia.

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