(Image source from: AFP)
India is set to spend around $2 billion to rent a nuclear submarine from Russia, as per sources familiar with the situation. This agreement comes after nearly ten years of negotiations and happens just as President Vladimir Putin is visiting New Delhi this week. The discussions about leasing the submarine had faced hurdles over the years due to price talks, according to those who chose to remain unnamed because the talks are confidential. However, both parties have now reached an agreement, and Indian officials are scheduled to visit a Russian shipbuilding facility in November. It is anticipated that India will receive the submarine within two years, but the complexity of the project may result in delays.
Putin is expected to arrive in India on Thursday for his first trip since Russia's extensive invasion of Ukraine. He will meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to highlight the defense and energy relationships between the two nations. Modi has been working to strengthen relationships with both Russia and China recently, emphasizing India's independence following the imposition of high tariffs of 50 percent on Indian goods by US President Donald Trump. Currently, Modi’s administration is attempting to negotiate a trade agreement to lower these tariffs, which were put in place as part of Trump's strategy to pressure India into ceasing its purchases of Russian oil as he seeks leverage over Putin to bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine.
Before Putin's visit, India's Chief of Naval Staff Dinesh K Tripathi shared with reporters this week that the commissioning of the attack submarine is expected soon, but did not provide further details. This submarine will be larger than the two currently in the navy’s fleet. Neither the Ministry of External Affairs nor the Ministry of Defence in India responded to emails for additional information. Similarly, Russia's Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry, and Rosoboronexport did not reply to requests for comments.
India has developed ballistic missiles that can be launched from submarines and are capable of carrying nuclear weapons. According to the Nuclear Threat Initiative's report, this gives India a nuclear triad, meaning it can deliver atomic weapons from land, sea, and air. Submarines powered by nuclear energy are significantly better than those using diesel. They are usually larger, can remain underwater for more extended periods, and are quieter, which makes them more challenging to detect, particularly when patrolling the large areas of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Currently, India has a fleet of 17 submarines that run on diesel.
India's nuclear submarines, which are built and designed in the country, are meant for strategic deterrence and can carry SLBMs. The nation is also getting ready to create nuclear-powered attack submarines that will target and eliminate enemy submarines and surface vessels. According to the lease agreement, the Russian attack submarine cannot be deployed in battle. It will aid India in training sailors and improving the operations of nuclear submarines as it constructs its own fleet, the sources mentioned. The Russian submarine will be part of India's Navy for a decade. The previous Russian submarine, which was also leased for ten years, returned in 2021, as per the sources. The lease contract will cover maintenance as well, they indicated.
As the Indian Ocean area receives increasing attention, the demand for such submarines has expanded. Australia is collaborating with the UK and the US to create comparable vessels as part of the AUKUS security alliance. So far, only a handful of countries – namely the US, UK, France, China, and Russia – have possessed the expertise to operate nuclear-powered submarines. South Korea is also partnering with the US to develop nuclear submarines.
India is maintaining its long-term relations with Moscow while also strengthening ties with the US. It has lessened its dependence on Russian military equipment by purchasing more arms from the US and European nations. Nevertheless, Modi's choice to depend on Russia for nuclear submarines indicates India's comfort with Moscow on crucial matters, even amidst Trump's criticisms.
"They have acquired most of their military equipment from Russia and are the largest purchaser of energy from Russia alongside China," Trump stated in a Truth Social post in July. The US has urged India to cease purchasing Russian oil, imposing a 25 percent "secondary tariff" on US imports of Indian products from the end of August. According to Tripathi, India's third ballistic missile submarine is anticipated to be added to the nuclear fleet next year. Additionally, India is in the process of constructing two nuclear-powered attack submarines, Bloomberg News reported.
