SOURCE: AFI
According to a report by veteran defence journalist Sandeep Unnithan for ChakraNewZ, Russia has offered India a second nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN), potentially expanding India’s undersea deterrent capabilities. The offer comes in addition to the Akula-class SSN currently being leased by India, which is scheduled for delivery to the Indian Navy around 2028.
While the identity of the submarine hull offered remains unconfirmed, speculation points toward the unfinished K-519 ‘Iribis’, an Akula-class (Project 971I) submarine laid down at the Amur Shipyard in 1994. Construction on K-519 was halted in 1996 when the submarine was approximately 42% complete. If this hull is indeed the one being offered, it would likely require significant refurbishment and outfitting, a process expected to be carried out at a Russian shipyard before any potential handover to the Indian Navy.
India has had a longstanding collaboration with Russia in the nuclear submarine domain. In 2019, India signed a $3 billion lease agreement for an Akula-class SSN—referred to in Indian circles as INS Chakra III—which is currently undergoing upgrades and is expected to join the Indian Navy by 2028. The addition of a second Akula-class submarine, if finalized, would significantly enhance the Navy’s underwater endurance, stealth, and strike capabilities.
The Akula-class is considered one of Russia’s most capable SSNs, featuring a combination of speed, deep diving ability, and a powerful suite of torpedoes and cruise missiles. These submarines are primarily used for hunter-killer roles, tracking enemy submarines and surface vessels, and providing cover for ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs).
India previously operated INS Chakra II, another leased Akula-class submarine, from 2012 to 2021. That lease ended with the return of the vessel to Russia, but it provided invaluable experience to Indian crews in operating nuclear-powered submarines and laid the groundwork for future indigenous SSN development under India’s classified nuclear submarine program.
The new offer, if accepted, would bolster India’s efforts to maintain a credible sea-based deterrent and support blue-water operational capabilities across the Indo-Pacific. It also reinforces the strategic trust between New Delhi and Moscow in the defence technology domain, particularly in sensitive areas like nuclear propulsion.
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