–India and Russia are set to sign a $3 billion lease agreement for a nuclear-powered attack sub on March 7, according to local media reportsNEW DELHI: India and Russia are expected to conclude an intergovernmental agreement for a 10-year lease of a Russian nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) this week. This will be the third instance of a Russian submarine leased by the Indian Navy. In 1988, the Navy inducted a Project 670 Skat-class (NATO classification: Charlie-class) nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine, rechristened INS Chakra, on a three-year lease. In 2012, a second INS Chakra, the retrofitted K-152 Project 971 Akula-class Nerpa, was leased for 10 years. As I reported in 2015, the Kashalot reportedly achieved a Russian Navy record in the summer of 1991 by trailing foreign submarines for over 14 days without interruption.

Source: Pakistan Today March 04, 2019 17:52 UTC