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The Russian side is ready to hand over India in the lease for 10 years a second nuclear submarine Project 971 "Pike-B"
According to the source, work to change the appearance of the nuclear-powered icebreaker will be held at the Amur shipyard. For modernization and testing of the ship, as well as training Indian crew will take three years. In this case, the ship may be delivered to the customer in 2018.

According to the source, the K-322 "Kashalot" is on the Amur Shipyard (Komsomolsk-on-Amur). Submarine commanded by Captain 1st rank D.Lavrentev.

Russian shipbuilders have experience in preparation for the transfer of the Indian Navy nuclear-powered Project 971 "Seal". Submarine was leased to a 10-year cost of $ 980 million. Act on its acceptance-transfer was signed in December 2011. The submarine, named "Chakra", became part of the national Navy April 4, 2012.

Submarine "Nerpa" was supposed to go to the Indian Navy in 2008. However, in November 2008, during the tests in the Sea of Japan because of the unauthorized inclusion of automatic fire extinguishing systems on a submarine killed 20 people, which led to a revision of the terms of its transfer to the Indian Navy. Military investigators charged with negligence submarine commander Captain 1st Rank Dmitry Lavrentiev and hold the engineer Dmitry deathly allegedly improperly adjusted air temperature sensor to the living compartment. The trial was completed on April 26, 2013, when the jury found them not guilty again in the accident.

NS "Kashalot" Project 971 (code "Pike-B") refers to the submarines of the 3rd generation. Joined the Pacific Fleet March 1, 1989. Submerged displacement - 12.77 thousand. Tons, underwater speed - 30 knots, maximum depth - 600 meters, autonomy - 100 days, the crew - 73 people.

The first submarine, also named "Chakra", India was leased for three years in 1988. In 1991, the term of the contract expired, and, as pointed out by experts, under pressure from the US administration, the Soviet leadership refused to renew the lease.

The Ministry of Defence of India intends to take from Russia to lease a second nuclear submarine Project 971 "Pike-B." On this, as reported by The Times of India, India's Defense Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar. The possibility of the ship in rent was discussed during the visit to India of Russian President Vladimir Putin December 11, 2014. The new ship will enable the Indian Navy to strengthen its presence in the world's oceans, as well as enhance the training of submariners.

According Parrikara, the final decision on leasing the second submarine of Project 971 is still pending. Indian military department is currently considering two options: rent the second ship of the "Pike-B" or a lease renewal submarine "Chakra" (K-152 "Seal"), received in January 2012 under a contract of lease for a period of ten years. When it is the Ministry of Defence intends to make the final choice is still unknown.

Indian military department is interested in renting the submarine "Irbis" Project 971I tab which took place in 1994. Readiness of the ship with the serial number 519 is estimated at 46-48 per cent; at the time of freezing construction in the "Amur plant" in 2011 was formed by submarine pressure hull. Earlier, the Ministry of Defence of India has announced that it is ready to consider funding the completion of the submarine and its subsequent lease.

Currently, the Indian Navy submarine worth "Chakra", built in the Russian project "Pike-B." Contract on leasing the ship was signed in 2004, and its value was more than $ 900 million (it was originally set at $ 650 million). Delivery of the ship to the customer regularly delayed; the contract of 2004 it was assumed that India will be "Chakra" in 2008.

"Chakra" is a third-generation submarine. Submerged displacement of the ship is 12.8 thousand tons. K-152 is capable of speeds up to 30 knots and dive to a depth of 600 meters. The ship is equipped with four torpedo tubes and four 533 mm - 650 mm caliber.

MOSCOW, December 13 (RIA Novosti) – The overhaul of Russia’s fleet of third-generation Project 971 (Akula class) nuclear-powered attack submarines could take at least a decade, the Zvyozdochka shipyard said Friday.

“The planned modernization schedule [for each boat] is at least three years,” Zvyozdochka general director Vladimir Nikitin said in an exclusive interview with RIA Novosti.

The first Akula-class boat, the Leopard, is already being upgraded at the shipyard, but the work on that vessel will take much longer compared with subsequent submarines because the development of the documentation and technological processes for the necessary repairs have not been yet completed, Nikitin said.

The overhaul will involve replacement of the electrical wiring, electronics, missile systems and other equipment. The upgraded vessels will also feature better “stealth” capabilities.

Together with Project 885 Yasen (Graney) class nuclear-powered vessels, they will constitute the core of the Russian fleet of nuclear attack submarines.

The third-generation Project 971 submarine was developed by the Malakhit Design Bureau in the 1970s-80s as an alternative to costly titanium-hull Sierra class vessels.

A total of 15 submarines were built from 1984 to 2001 at the Amur shipyard in Komsomolsk-on-Amur and at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk. It is not known how many of them are still in service, but one of the subs, the Nerpa, has been leased to India for 10 years under the name INS Chakra.

Akula-class submarines feature very low acoustic signatures and can carry up to 12 submarine-launched cruise missiles with nuclear warheads and a range of 3,000 kilometers (1,860 miles) in addition to anti-ship missiles and torpedoes.

India has expressed interest in leasing another nuclear attack submarine from Russia to supplement the Akula class hunter-killer that was inducted last year and the two sides are now ready to start negotiations on the project, the head of the top Russian design bureau for nuclear submarines has said.

Tentatively christened INS Chakra III, the new submarine will be a variant of the Akula class of stealthy nuclear-powered submarines that are capable of spending months under water but is likely to be equipped with more lethal weaponry, including a vertically launched Brahmos missile system.

If the project goes through, this would be the third Russian nuclear submarine to be operated by India. The first being the original INS Chakra that was taken on a three-year lease in 1988 and the second was inducted last year after a four-year delay. It too has been named the INS Chakra.

Vladimir Dorofeev, head of the Malachite Design Bureau, which is the main centre for nuclear attack submarines in Russia, has said that the negotiations that India and Russia did during the 2012 lease of the Chakra would help in a smooth process for the acquisition of the new submarine. He also told The Indian Express that India has expressed an interest in acquiring the submarine and both the Russian design bureau and the shipyard that will construct it are ready for negotiations.

The submarine is likely to be reconstructed round the hull of the Iribis, a Russian Akula class submarine that was never completed as funds ran dry after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Dorofeev said that the new submarine could also benefit from the design efforts that Russia had put in its latest class of Yasen nuclear-powered attack submarines.

"The fourth generation of Yasen class submarine has been tested successfully, including the firing of a cruise missile from the submerged vessel. We can use that experience for the second Indian submarine. The launch was done using a new vertical launch system that can be used for the next submarine," Dorofeev said.

The Russian Navy recently announced that it is upgrading its nine Akula class SSNs (nuclear attack subs). The first of these entered service in 1984, and fifteen were built. Several were cancelled after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, and some have been retired already. The latest Akula entered service two years ago and was then leased to India.These 8,100 ton boats were to be replaced by the new Graney (Yasen) class subs. That has not worked out so far because of problems with the Graneys. Moreover, the Russian Navy is not getting enough money to replace their rapidly aging nuclear subs, so it was decided to invest two years (and over $100 million) each for the existing Akulas to upgrade and refurbish them so they can remain in service for another decade or two.

Meanwhile, the Graney SSGNs (nuclear powered cruise missile sub) were delayed twice last year. Sea trials revealed that the nuclear reactor did not produce the required power and that the ability of the boat to remain quiet while under water was not what it should be. An underpowered and noisy sub is not acceptable, and the navy is demanding that the builder make it all better before 2014. That may not be possible because the 1990s lack of work, and money, meant that most of the best people left the companies that produced the nuclear subs and their complex components. Those left behind have produced a growing list of embarrassing failures.

Earlier, undisclosed problems with the first Graney have postponed it from entering service for at least a year. That will mean, if the latest delay is the last one, the first Graney will enter service twenty years after construction began. These problems are not restricted to the Graney, as other new subs are also encountering numerous construction and design problems.

In early 2011, the fifty man crew of the first Graney took their boat to sea, or at least around the harbor, for the first time. Sea trials were to begin three months later but first the sub took baby steps to ensure that everything worked. These harbor trials were seen as a major progress. Things went downhill again after that, with a growing number of delays as more and more problems were encountered.

Russian submarine building has been on life support since the Cold War ended in 1991. Many subs under construction at the end of the Cold War were cancelled, and the few that avoided that spent a decade or more waiting for enough money to get finished. The first Graney crew was put together seven years ago and has been training, and waiting, ever since. The crew now continues training on their new boat, which was supposed to have entered service by now.

Four years ago construction began on a second Graney. Russia plans to complete six boats of this class by the end of the decade. Construction of the first Graney class boat, the Severodvinsk, began in 1993, and it was to have entered service in 1998. Work on this boat was resumed nine years ago. If work is not interrupted the second Graney class boat should be ready in less than six years. With the current situation, better make that seven or eight years.

The 9,500 ton Graneys are armed with 24 cruise missiles, as well as eight 650mm (25.6 inch) torpedo tubes. Some of the cruise missiles can have a range of over 3,000 kilometers, while others are designed as "carrier killers." The larger torpedo tubes also make it possible to launch missiles from them, as well as larger and more powerful torpedoes. The Graneys are having new "smart" (target seeking) torpedoes designed and built for them. But even these new torpedoes are having development problems and may be cancelled.

The Graneys are highly automated, which is why there is a crew of less than half the 134 needed to run the new U.S. Virginia class boats. The Graney design is based on the earlier Akula and Alfa class SSNs. Russia had originally planned to build 30 Graneys, but now eight seems the most optimistic goal. Thus the need for refurbishing Cold War era boats just to obtain a respectable number of subs.

12.03.2013 The Ministry of Defence of India is ready to finance the completion of the second nuclear submarine of project 971 "Pike-B", then take the ship out, RIA Novosti reported with reference to a high-ranking source in the Russian military-industrial complex. India is currently leased from Russia sister ship "Seal". Robust housing second submarine of Project 971 is fully completed and in the stocks at the Amur shipyard.

Further details on the possible rental India second class submarine "Nerpa" are not specified. The first such ship in the Navy received the name of "Chakra", India has taken into service in early April 2012. The same ship is included in the Russian Navy by the name "Seal". In late December 2011, the General Staff of the Russian Navy parties signed acceptance report "Chakras" Indian Navy and the official handover ceremony was held at the end of the ship in January 2012 at the shipyard "Zvezda".

India rents "Chakra" for a period of ten years. The rent is $ 900 million. Submarine displacement 12.8 tons can dive to a depth of 600 meters and a speed of 30 knots. The ship is armed with missile complex "Club-S" and new torpedoes. Now in the interest of the Indian Navy is building a nuclear submarine "Arihant" national development, but delivery ship of regular shift. It is possible that it is delaying the construction of a series of submarine type "Arihant" and was the reason for considering the possibility of renting the second ship of "Seal".

At the end of December 2012 it was reported that the Indian Navy found on a nuclear submarine "Chakra" some critical problems of important devices, but did not specify which ones. Command of the Indian Navy has turned to Russia to replace defective units.

Source : http://flotprom.ru/news/?ELEMENT_ID=140224

The retrial of two Russian navy personnel accused of causing a deadly accident on board a Nerpa nuclear submarine in 2008 opened at a court in the eastern city of Vladivostok on Tuesday.
The opening session of the retail mainly focused on a number of procedural issues, according to the state-run RIA Novosti news agency. It was subsequently decided to hold the next hearing on December 20.
The two defendants -- Captain Dmitry Lavrentyev and Petty Officer Dmitry Grobov-- were present in the court room for the opening session. They are accused of causing "death by negligence." They have denied the charges, insisting that the accident was caused by faulty equipment.
Incidentally, both Lavrentyev and Grobov were acquitted by a military court in October 2011. But the Russian Supreme Court revered that decision on appeal in May 2012, and remanded the case for reconsideration.
The case against the defendants stems from the deadly accident on board a Nerpa nuclear submarine on November 2008 in which 20 of the 208 people on board the vessel were killed. The accident occurred after the submarine's fire extinguishing system was apparently activated without warning while tests were being conducted in the Sea of Japan....

India has begun negotiations with Russia to lease nuclear submarine K-322 "Kashalot " Project 971 "Pike-B", reports "Interfax" referring to a source in the Russian military-industrial complex. If the parties sign a contract until the end of 2015, the ship can be delivered to the customer already in 2018.

According to the source agency, before the submarine will be leased, it will be modernized in accordance with the requirements of the Indian Navy. Work will be performed Amur Shipyard, where now is the K-322. A total revision of "Kashalot ", its testing and training of Indian crew will take three years. Indian Ministry of Defence is considering the lease nuclear submarine for a period of ten years.

The fact that India is considering the possibility of renting the submarine Project 971, it became known in December 2014. Then the Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said that the Defense Ministry is considering two options: the extension of the lease of the submarine "Chakra" (K-152 "Seal") Project 971 or rent the second ship of the "Pike-B." On the timing of the final decision Parrikar then spoke.

It was also reported that the Indian military department interested in the possibility of renting a submarine "Irbis" Project 971I tab which took place in 1994. Readiness of the ship with the serial number 519 is estimated at 46-48 per cent; at the time of freezing construction in the Amur shipyard in 2011, was formed by the pressure hull of the submarine. Earlier, India declared its readiness to consider funding the completion of the submarine and its subsequent lease.

Currently, the Indian Navy submarine worth "Chakra", built in Russia under the project 971 "Pike-B." Contract on leasing the ship was signed in 2004, and its cost was about $ 980 million (it was originally set at $ 650 million). Delivery of the ship to the customer regularly delayed; the contract of 2004 it was assumed that India will be "Chakra" in 2008.

In the course of the upcoming four-day visit Indian Defense Minister AK Anthony in Russia, where he will take part in the ceremony of transfer of an aircraft carrier "Vikramaditya" Nov. 16, will focus on the important issues of military-technical cooperation between the two countries, according to firstpost.com November 14.
These issues are the possible lease of the second Russian nuclear submarine and a discussion of the development of the fifth generation fighter FGFA in terms of increasing India's share of R & D, which currently stands at only 20%, although New Delhi finances 50% of the cost of the program.
Indian officials have remained silent on the second lease nuclear submarines. However, informed sources believe that the new submarines may be taken in rent over the next 10 years the amount of 1.2 billion U.S. dollars. The first boat was taken last year and is already in the Navy (10-year lease in the amount of just under $ 1 billion).
The success of the negotiations depends on the position of Russia. If they are successful, India will establish two committees under the auspices of the Council of defense procurement under the chairmanship of the Minister of Defence and the Cabinet Committee headed by the prime minister. The source said that India could go to build a new boat, and not ready to rent. In addition, the expressed desire to equip a new boat supersonic cruise missile "BrahMos" with a range of 290 km.
If all goes well, India will finance the construction of new nuclear submarines in Russia, in turn, Moscow will take over the maintenance and repair of the submarine.

Three nuclear submarines of the Russian Navy currently under maintenance will be recommissioned by 2014, a Navy spokesman told journalists Tuesday: Two Oscar II class (Project 949A Antey) nuclear-powered cruise missile submarines and one Akula class (Project 971 Schuka-B) nuclear-powered attack submarine.The K-410 Smolensk cruise missile submarine, which is undergoing repairs since 2011, will resume its service in the Northern Fleet, the spokesman said.
The Pacific Fleet will be rejoined by the K-150 Tomsk cruise missile submarine, which was docked in 2010 due to problems with the cooling engine of its nuclear reactor; and the K-419 Kuzbass attack submarine, under repairs since 2010. The Kuzbass belongs to the same Akula II class as the ill-fated K-152 Nerpa, on which 20 people were killed during sea trials in 2008 due to malfunction of the fire suppression system.
The Russian Navy has 48 nuclear submarines, 20 of which are currently undergoing repairs or upgrade, according to Russian-ships.info database.
 

Le chantier naval Zvezdocthka (Severodvinsk) modernisera les six SSN du Projet 971 en service dans la flotte du Nord. Le chantier devrait également se charger de la modernisation des submersibles du même type affectés à la flotte du Pacifique.

Nous avions déjà évoqué ce sujet il y a quelques semaines : la marine russe mise sur la modernisation des submersibles de troisième génération pour combler un vide capacitaire en attendant la mise en service des nouveaux sous-marins de quatrième génération (Projet 885, 955) actuellement en chantier ou en phase d'essais.

Les sous-marins nucléaires d'attaque de troisième génération du Projet 971 Shchuka B (type Akula) seront donc modernisés par le centre de réparation navale Zvezdocthka qui les fera passer à la génération "3+".

Le contrat entre l'industriel et le ministère russe de la Défense a été déjà signé pour deux unités de la flotte du Nord, le K-328 Léopard et le K-461 Volk, toutefois les six unités encore en service au sein de cette même flotte seront modernisées, de même que celles de la flotte du Pacifique. Après modernisation, les bâtiments appartiendront au projet 971M, différent du projet 0971.1 déjà existant.

Selon le service de presse de Zvezdoctha, il s'agit d'une modernisation en profondeur des submersibles. Pratiquement tous les systèmes des navires sont concernés: l'hydroacoustique, les sytèmes d'armements, les turbines, la centrale électrique...

Les travaux de modernisation ont déjà commencé sur le K-328 qui est arrivé à Zvezdocthka au mois de juin 2011 avant d'être admis dans le hall de montage au mois de mai 2012. Le K-328 doit être remis à la marine russe fin 2014: il sera alors notamment équipé du complexe de missiles "Kalibr PL".

Les submersibles du Projet 971 ont été mis en service à la fin des années 1980 et pendant la décennie 1990: six unités sont en service dans la flotte du Nord et sept dans la flotte du Pacifique.

NEW DELHI: India's only Russian-origin nuclear submarine INS Chakra is facing problems with its critical components affecting its operational readiness.
The 8,000-tonne submarine has been facing problems with its critical components and Russia has been asked to provide the parts for the vessel which need to be replaced, Navy sources told PTI here.
However, they did not divulge the components which would have to be replaced but indicated they are critical for the operations of the submarine.
India had inducted the Akula-II Class 'Nerpa' nuclear submarine in its inventory in April this year at the Vishakhapatnam-based Eastern Naval Command. It was renamed 'Chakra' by the Indian Navy.

The Russian submarine had met with an accident in November 2008 when it was undergoing sea trials in the Sea of Japan in which around twenty sailors were killed and several others were left injured.
The submarine was launched in 1993-94 but its construction was held up since then due to lack of funds with the Russian Navy.
However, in 2004, the Russian side decided to build it after reaching a ten-year lease agreement for operation of the submarine with the Indian side.
With INS Chakra and the yet-to-be-inducted indigenously built INS Arihant, India is planning to have two nuclear submarines guarding its vast maritime boundary...