Decision On Leasing Second Russian Nuclear Sub During Indo-Russian Summit

Russia has offered to lease another nuclear submarine to India if an agreement for the same is signed at the summit between the two nations in December.

The possibility of leasing a second submarine from Russia will be studied during India’s Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar’s visit to Moscow next week, Tass quoted a Defense Ministry source as saying Monday.

"Parrikar will hold talks on this strategic project with his Russian counterpart Sergey Shoigu. After the ten-year contract is signed another two or three years will be required for upgrading the submarine in keeping with India’s requirements," he said.

Negotiations on leasing Kashalot K-322 nuclear powered submarine of Shchuka project 971 are at the final phase, Tass reported quoting a Russian military source at the Russian Embassy in New Delhi as saying.

"If the contract is signed, it will be the third Russia-built submarine handed over to the Indian Navy," he said. "For the first time India leased a Russian nuclear submarine for ten years back in the early 1980s. In 2012 the Indian Navy leased Russia’s K-152 Nerpa submarine of project 971. This is a customary and well-tested way of cooperation by our countries in the military-technical sphere."

According to the Russian source, the submarine will undergo fundamental upgrade in line with the customer’s requirements at the Amur shipyards, where it is at the moment. The repair, upgrade and testing work and the Indian crew’s training are to be completed by 2018.