Indian Navy signs 10-year lease for third Russian nuclear-submarine

Will join the fleet in 2025, after current INS Chakra completes 10-year lease

Underlining slow progress in the indigenous project to design and build six nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs), India and Russia have signed a 10-year lease for a new Russian SSN, which will join the Indian fleet around 2025.

The navy already operates a Russian SSN, called INS Chakra, which was taken on a 10-year lease in April 2012 for almost a billion dollars. This was to return to Russia in 2022, but defence ministry sources say its lease could be extended by three years, while the next INS Chakra is built.

India leased its first nuclear submarine, the Charlie-class INS Chakra,