Source : Indian Defence Updates (IDU)
Russia may delay handover of the new leased Akula class SSN (Chakra-III) to India
India had leased an Akula-class nuclear attack submarine (SSN) in 2019 for 10 years from Russia under a $3 billion deal and its transfer to the Indian Navy was expected by end of 2025, but chances are that it might be postponed to the end of 2027, mainly due to the present security situation in Eastern Europe.
The nuclear attack submarine is presently undergoing medium repair and deep modernization at a Russian submarine repair center and the overhaul will see a refurbished Hull modernization and fitment of Indian communication systems and sensors into the submarine.
India had returned INS Chakra-II (Project 971 Nerpa) nuclear attack submarine (SSN) to Russia on June 2021, after which the Indian Navy is left without a nuclear attack submarine (SSN) in its fleet, while in the meantime it has inducted two indigenously designed, developed and manufactured Arihant class SSBN (Nuclear Ballistic Missile Submarine) into its fleet, while it also has plans to indigenously design and manufacture 6 nuclear attack submarines (SSN) long pending since approved in 2015.
