India to Take Delivery of Cutting-Edge Russian Akula-Class Submarine with Long-Range Kalibr Missiles
In a significant boost to India's naval power, Russia is on the verge of leasing the upgraded Akula-class nuclear-powered attack submarine to the Indian Navy, with delivery scheduled by 2028. The handover is part of a $3 billion intergovernmental contract signed in 2019. While the initial delivery schedule was to be completed by 2025, the project has suffered delays owing to technical issues and logistical challenges.
The new ship will be taking the place of the presently decommissioned INS Chakra, which India used to lease from Russia from 2012 to 2022. Its arrival will substantially bolster India's underwater warfare capabilities, particularly as strategic tensions and naval rivalries intensify throughout the Indo-Pacific theater.
Among the most significant improvements is the integration of the 3M14K Kalibr (SS-N-30A) cruise missile system. The missile significantly increases the submarine's striking power beyond previous estimates, raising the reach from the anticipated 500–600 kilometers to a whopping 1,500–2,000 kilometers. Part of Russia's Club family of missiles, the Kalibr allows for long-range, accurate strikes against land and sea targets and significantly enhances India's power projection capabilities from below the surface of the ocean.
This acquisition aligns with India's continued push for upgrading its naval fleet and ensuring a robust regional deterrence presence. Steeped in their stealth, endurance, and adaptability, Akula-class submarines are among the most advanced nuclear attack submarines globally. They are designed for various mission profiles, such as anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), and strategic deep-sea strike operations, using both torpedoes and cruise missiles.
The leased submarine will enhance strategic depth to India's submarine force, which already comprises Scorpene-class conventional submarines and two indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), like the INS Arihant. These resources are the foundation of India's sea-based nuclear deterrent.
Even though certain reasons for the delay in delivery were not elaborated within the report, such delays are generally traced back to technical delays, international supply chain issues, and changing geopolitical priorities. Furthermore, Russia's own domestic defense production needs and international security obligations could also have hindered the refit and transfer of the submarine.
Seen in the context of regional security, this acquisition is an important addition to India's naval arsenal, particularly as it looks to check China's increasing naval presence and assertive role across the Indo-Pacific theater.
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