India Wants to Lease Another Russian Nuclear Submarine

Project 971 submarine (Source: TASS)

The project 971 Kashalot-class submarine may become the second submarine that Russia transfers to India for lease

MOSCOW, March 24 - India has asked Russia to transfer another nuclear submarine for lease, a high-placed source in the system of Russia’s military and technical cooperation with foreign countries said on Tuesday according to Russian news agency TASS.

The project 971 Kashalot-class submarine may become the second submarine that Russia transfers to India for lease, the source said.

"In January this year, the Indian side suggested transferring the second project 971 multipurpose nuclear submarine Kashalot for lease," the source said, adding "the Russian side is studying the issue."

"The procedure will most likely be similar to the procedure, which was used for transferring the first submarine called Nerpa (dubbed Charka by India) to the Indian side," the source said.

A representative of Russia’s ship-building industry also told TASS that "the Indian side is requesting to transfer this submarine to it for lease."

TASS has not yet received any official confirmation of this information.

The project 971 Nerpa nuclear submarine joined the Indian Navy in the spring of 2012. The submarine was laid down back in 1991 and Russia finished its construction after it received financing from the Indian side.

The Nerpa was leased from Russia for a term of ten years. The Times of India reported late last year that India wanted to lease the second Russian nuclear submarine. (TASS)