Russia to hand over Nerpa nuclear submarine to India

Russia's K-152 Nerpa nuclear-powered attack submarine will be handed over to the Indian Navy on Monday, a top official in the United Shipbuilding Corporation said. In line with the contract worth over $900 million, the Project 971 Shchuka-B (NATO: Akula II) class sub will be leased to India’s Navy for ten years. It will be recommissioned as the INS Chakra, Russian (RIA Novosti) News Agency reported. India will become only the sixth operator of nuclear submarines in the world when it takes delivery of the Nerpa, after the United States, Russia, France, Britain and China, though it previously leased another Russian submarine which was then returned. Twenty sailors died on the Nerpa in 2008 after the vessel’s fire-suppression systems were accidentally triggered during sea trials, releasing toxic gases. (QNA) SHM/LY