"Chakra" class nuclear submarine leased by India
At the same time, Russia continues to be willing to provide India with "Acura" class nuclear submarine. Although India’s success in achieving self-reliance in its nuclear submarine program is nowhere in sight, India has taken this Russian nuclear submarine from the Russians at a price of US$900 million in 2012 and leased it to India for a 10-year lease. It may be extended by three years.
Indian submarine test-fired K-15 submarine-launched missile
According to the agreement, Indian engineers and sailors went to Russia to receive training on how to operate and maintain nuclear submarines. The Indian Navy has used Chakra II to prepare the submarine crew to introduce a nuclear-powered Arihan super submarine production line. In 2019, India leased the Akula-1 nuclear-powered attack submarine from Russia for a period of 10 years under a contract of US$3 billion. Russia will deliver another Acura-1 class submarine to the Indian Navy before 2025, the Chakra III submarine.
The main purpose of India's lease of the Chakra III nuclear submarine is to become a test bed to promote India's plan to produce six nuclear attack submarines locally. However, in the tension between China and India, India believes that Russia’s Akula-class nuclear attack submarine will play an important role.
Pakistan's P-3C anti-submarine aircraft
India believes that, considering the relatively weak anti-submarine warfare capabilities of the Chinese and Pakistani navies, this is a valuable asset. Since it was first put into use, the Russian Akula-class nuclear submarine has been modernized, equipped with new equipment, improved sensors, and further reduced noise to improve survivability. Senior officials of the Indian Navy have told the media that the transaction includes the use of Indian communications and sensor systems to refurbish submarines, provide spare parts to support and train the technical infrastructure for its operations.
India-made submarine
Earlier this year, according to the 2020 defense procurement procedures, the Indian government allowed the army, navy and air force to lease equipment instead of one-time purchase. "This greatly reduces costs and eliminates life cycle costs. Many items can be purchased through leasing." Indian experts pointed out. India has set the goal of the nuclear submarine project to be domestically produced, and 60% of the components of the Arihan Special Class come from local manufacturers. The Indian Navy has benefited a lot from this arrangement through Russia’s close design and technical cooperation.
As early as 1986, the Soviet Union and India signed a 10-year lease agreement for Charlie-class nuclear cruise missile submarines. The Soviet Union was the first country to provide leased nuclear submarines. Due to lease restrictions, India quickly terminated the lease of its first nuclear submarine.
