Second Russian nuclear submarine to replace INS Chakra

NEW DELHI: The Indian Navy will not be deploying a second Russian nuclear attack submarine in addition to the INS Chakra — a “sub surface nuclear” (SSN) vessel leased from Russia for 10 years, from 2012-2022.

Instead, Business Standard learns from government sources in New Delhi that the second SSN that India is negotiating to lease from Russia will only replace the Chakra when its 10-year lease expires. 

A Russian official source from Moscow confirms: “India would only get delivery of a second SSN by 2020-21. There might be some overlap with INS Chakra but, after its lease runs out in 2022, India will continue to operate just one Russian SSN.” 

Russian media reports indicate that a half-built Amur-class submarine in Russia, tentatively named Irbis, could be completed and delivered to India by 2020-21. While the Chakra lease cost $970 million, the next submarine might be substantially costlier.

The defence ministry has been evaluating a replacement for the Chakra even before it came to India. Speaking to the media in April 2012, the day the Chakra joined the navy’s eastern fleet in Visakhapatnam, then Defence Minister A K Antony told the media: “There is a proposal (about a second nuclear submarine) but we have not taken a decision about that.”  

Meanwhile, as part of the established Russia-India partnership in nuclear submarines, Russian experts continue supporting the Indian Navy’s indigenous SSN programme, which New Delhi plans to develop into four-six indigenous SSNs.  The Chakra and its successor are intended to develop the expertise needed to operate these.  

Negotiations on nuclear assets are top secret, which is why there was no mention of a replacement SSN after the 17th Russia-India annual summit meeting in Goa last week between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin.