Russia will lease SSN Nerpa to India no later than in Oct 2011

17.03.2011 Russia will lease nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) Nerpa to India no later than in Oct 2011, reported RIA Novosti referring to a high-ranking source in Russian Navy Main HQ.

Some media agencies previously reported that SSN Nerpa had been allegedly leased to India for a 10-year term.

"Nerpa is fully ready for leasing. Currently, Indian crew is trained in the sub along with Russian instructors. The training must be completed by October, as we're behind the schedule", said the interviewee.

He specified that Indian submariners must complete the full training program including cruise missile firings.

"What we must do now is to "coach" the Indian crew in full", said the admiral.

Then the sub will head for India, he concluded.

It was planned to hand over SSN Nerpa to Indian Navy as early as 2009, but a fire occurred in the sub on Nov 8, 2008 during the shipyard's sea trials in the Sea of Japan. As a result of unauthorized operation of firefighting system, freon gas entered the sub's compartments. Twenty men died, other 21 were intoxicated. Totally, there were 208 men on board the submarine while the accident happened.

SSN Nerpa was commissioned into Russian Navy after repair in Dec 2009.

According to RIA Novosti, the $920 mln contract provides the lease term of 10 years.

SSN Nerpa (K-152, Project 971 Schuka-B) is a third-generation submarine laid down at Amur Shipyard (Komsomolsk-on-Amur) in 1991. However, financing of the sub's construction was shut down in mid-90's. Completion of the submarine became possible only under India's investment.

The sub's displacement is 8,140/12,770 tons; max speed is 30 knots; test depth is 600 meters; endurance is 100 days; crew is 73; armament includes four 533-mm torpedo tubes and four 650-mm torpedo tubes.