News Desk: New Delhi is gearing up for high-stakes diplomacy as Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to touch down in the capital around 6:35 PM for the 23rd Annual India–Russia Summit, where defence cooperation will dominate the agenda.
In a major strategic move ahead of the visit, India has clinched a $2-billion agreement with Moscow to lease a nuclear-powered attack submarine, ending months of stalled price negotiations, Bloomberg reported. A team of Indian officials had recently inspected a Russian shipyard, clearing the path for the long-pending deal.
Sources said the submarine is slated for delivery within the next two years, although the complex nature of the arrangement could lead to timeline adjustments. The Indian Navy’s new acquisition will be larger and more advanced than its existing nuclear-powered boats.
Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi confirmed this week that the submarine’s commissioning is “expected soon,” without divulging specifics.
Training, Not Combat
Under the lease terms, the nuclear submarine cannot be deployed in wartime. Instead, it will be used exclusively for crew training and enhancing India’s nuclear-submarine handling capabilities. The vessel will remain with the Indian Navy for a 10-year period — similar to the previous Russian-leased submarine that was returned in 2021 after a decade of service.
Nuclear submarines provide critical advantages over diesel-electric models: they can stay submerged for extended durations, travel farther, and operate with significantly lower acoustic signatures — a key edge across the vast Indian and Pacific Oceans. India currently operates 17 diesel-powered submarines, according to the Nuclear Threat Initiative.
With Putin’s arrival hours away, the submarine deal underscores the strategic depth of the India–Russia partnership as both nations prepare for another pivotal bilateral summit.
