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    Russian-Built Nuclear Submarine Joins Indian Navy

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    Russian-Built Nuclear Submarine Joins Indian Navy

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    Ryunjin Shin
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    Russian-built nuclear submarine joins Indian navy

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    Russian-Built Nuclear Submarine Joins Indian Navy

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    BBC news website, 4 April 2012

    Russian-built nuclear submarine joins Indian navy

    India has renamed the submarine the Chakra II

    Related Stories

     India's reliance on Russian arms


     India leases Russian nuclear sub
     India launches nuclear submarine

    India has formally commissioned a nuclear-powered submarine into its navy, rejoining
    the elite club of nations with such a weapon.

    The $1bn (£630m) Russian-built vessel is being leased by the Indian navy for the next 10
    years. It was handed over to India in eastern Russia in January.

    India previously operated a Soviet nuclear submarine until 1991.

    It now rejoins China, Russia, the US, the UK and France as an operator of nuclear
    submarines.

    India is also developing its own nuclear-powered submarine which is expected to be ready
    by the end of this year.

    'Pride of Indian navy'

    The 8,140-tonne Akula II-class submarine, built by the Russians as the K-152 Nerpa, has
    been renamed by India as the INS Chakra II.

    The submarine was formally commissioned into the navy by the country's Defence Minister,
    AK Antony, at a ceremony in Vishakhapatnam, on India's east coast off the Bay of Bengal.

    It has a crew of 80 under the command of Captain P Ashokan.

    The submarine set sail from the Russian port of Vladivostok 40 days ago and will now
    become the pride of the Indian navy, the BBC's Sanjoy Majumder reports from
    Vishakhapatnam.
    AT THE SCENE

    Sanjoy Majumder BBC News, Vishakhapatnam

    The massive sub is berthed at a jetty at the eastern


    naval command; the Indian flag at its nose.

    The crew, dressed in navy blue overalls, are lined up


    on its deck. A naval band is playing next to it.

    There's a visible sense of anticipation.

    Significantly, the submarine will be deployed on India's


    east, and not west, coast which means China -not
    Pakistan - is the clear threat.

    One naval officer told me that they are aware of the


    increased Chinese naval activity off Indian waters.

    This then is India's first, small step to counter that.

    In keeping with international non-proliferation treaties, the submarine will not be equipped
    with nuclear weapons. It will only carry cruise missiles.

    India had previously leased a nuclear submarine from the Russians in the late 1980s which
    was used to train its naval personnel.

    The INS Chakra will, however, be operational and is expected to give the Indian navy an
    added advantage, our correspondent says. It is capable of remaining submerged for about
    three months at a time.

    It was due to be handed over to Delhi in 2009 but the transfer was delayed because of
    problems during testing.

    In November 2008, at least 20 people died in an accident on the Nerpa when a fire
    extinguishing system was activated by mistake.

    India is also building an indigenous nuclear submarine, the Arihant, which is expected to join
    the navy some time next year.

    Russia is also expected to help India train the Arihant's crew.

    India and Russia are long-time allies and Russia supplies 70% of India's military hardware.

    Nuclear-powered submarine
    club
    USA – 71
    Russia - 21
    UK - 12
    France - 10
    China - 10 (estimated)
    India - 2 (one not
    commissioned)

    Source: World Nuclear


    Association

    End of the news story

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