SSN Nerpa Arrives in India Late March 2012

22.02.2012 Project 971U Schuka-B nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) K-152 Nerpa will arrive in India on March 30-31, reports RIA Novosti referring to a source in Indian defense ministry. The submarine will call at Visakhapatnam port heading part of the way in surface position. The sub is operated by Indian crew trained in naval center near St. Petersburg, Russia.

Nerpa was handed over to India on Jan 23, 2012 at Bolshoi Kamen, Primorsky Krai. When in Indian Navy, the submarine will bear the name of Chakra through the whole 10-year leasing period. The contract cost is about $900 mln. Indian submariners will use Nerpa as a training platform prior to service in domestically-build nuclear submarine INS Arihant.

K-152 Nerpa is a third-generation submarine. Displacement is 12,770 tons; test depth is 600 meters; max speed is 30 knots. Armament may include cruise missiles, torpedoes, and rocket torpedoes. As was earlier reported, Nerpa will be the only nuclear-powered submarine in Indian Navy until INS Arihant is commissioned.