Article Posted on : - Feb 28, 2012

Nerpa nuke sub. A file photo

NEW DELHI (PTI): In a major boost to its underwater strike capabilities, India will receive its Russian-origin nuclear-powered Akula II class submarine next month.

The nuclear submarine 'Nerpa' will arrive in Vishakhapatnam next month on a ten-year lease, Defence Ministry sources said here.

The submarine is scheduled to arrive at its home base Vishakhapatnam in the second half of March, they said, adding the deal is worth USD 920 million.

An Indian crew had set sail with the the Akula II class rechristened as INS Chakra to India at the end of January.

After the 'INS Chakra' joins the naval fleet, it would be for the first time in more than two decades that the Indian Navy would have a nuclear attack submarine. This will also propel India in the elite league of six nations operating nuclear submarines.

India is also working on developing indigenous nuclear submarines of the Arihant class. The first submarine named INS Arihant was launched for sea trials recently and is expected to start operational patrols by the end of this year.

The Navy will have three submarines of this class by the end of this decade.

India already possesses or is in the process of developing a family of nuclear-capable missiles including the Agni series, Prithvi variants, naval missile Dhanush, and submarine-launched Sagarika.