NEW DELHI:
Indian navy personnel will take command of the country’s first nuclear-powered submarine in two decades on Monday after collecting the vessel near the Russian port of Vladivostok, an official said.
Moscow offered the Russian-built Chakra II to the Indian navy on a 10-year lease.
The Akula II class craft is the first nuclear-powered submarine to be operated by India since it decommissioned its last Soviet-built vessel in 1991.
“INS Chakra II is being handed over to Indian personnel in the east, near Vladivostok,” a senior navy source in India told AFP, asking not to be named because Russia is to formally announce the transfer.
The 8,140-tonne submarine, capable of firing a range of torpedoes as well as nuclear-tipped Granat cruise missiles, is to sail under the Indian flag to its base at Visakhapatnam in the Bay of Bengal. India is currently completing the development of its own Arihant-class nuclear-powered ballistic submarines.
The submarine was originally due to be handed over to India in 2009 but has been hit by various problems during testing. During trials in the Sea of Japan in November 2008, 20 sailors were killed when a fire extinguisher released a deadly chemical that had been accidentally loaded into the system.
Russia supplies 70 percent of India’s military hardware but New Delhi has been unhappy about delays to arms orders from Moscow and has looked to other suppliers including the US in recent years.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 24th, 2012.
COMMENTS (7)
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@Ali Tanoli
I wonder if russian tech is so bad then what would happen of chinese technology! most of them are second hand russian tech with some chinese hacks here and there. For Ex: Chengdu J-7 (pakistan operates a large number of these)
@Ali Tanoli: Good, you should let the Pakistan armed forces know about your concern -- their T-80 tanks and all the Chinese hardware, is after all just a poor copy of Russian equipment.
@Ali Tanoli:
Russians did more original engineering research and innovation than Chinese will ever do. In fact, some of the most basic engineering production techniques we use today have been pioneered by Russians.
But, since you said it, we will be extra careful with our military hardware and thanks for the tip.
Becarfull guys russian technology are considered bogus in the world some time rockets hit the same plate form where its fired.
This just a part of preparation for running indigenous nuclear subs.
as an emerging superpower india seems well poised for this exclusive club. i read sometime back that india has even developed their own inhouse nuclear submarine! if true its a great tech leap fwd.
India joins the elite club of US, Russia, France, UK and China, which has the triad capability. Its a notable milestone, well done.