New Delhi, November 10
Yesterday’s accident on board Russia’s brand-new nuclear-powered submarine “Nerpa” will mean India will have to wait a little longer to get it even though the accident - on preliminary reports - is not been seen as a setback that could deter India.
The vessel was to be handed over by Russia and brought to Vishakapatnam in the next few months. The finer details are awaited, said sources here. It is also too early for the Indian defence establishment to make up its mind. The statement of the Russian Navy saying that “ the ship's nuclear reactor was not affected in the accident, and the submarine returned safely to port on its own power”, is being seen as a silver lining here at the Naval headquarters.
India wanted to acquire the nuclear-powered vessel and this delay would also delay the sea-launched nuclear weapon system. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is already working on developing a sea-launched system.
India currently possesses capabilities for ground and air launched nuclear weapon systems. The sea-launched weapons were to be tested on the Russian submarine.
Two Akula-II submarines were to be obtained by India on a 10-year lease from next year. Now Russia has announced that it has taken it off the ongoing performance trials and sent it off to a shipyard for repair. The Indian navy was monitoring the trials and it was being expected that India could have
made an official announcement close to the Republic Day on January 26.
The project was being kept under wraps so much so that the Russian defence minister A.E. Serdyukov, who was in India a few weeks ago on a meeting of the Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation, had refused to comment on any such issue.
Indian navy officials are already there in Russia monitoring the submarine project - both during its construction phase and now during the sea trials phase.
Russia has been asked to ensure proper safety measures on the ship before it is again sent for sea trials. In fact, India is insisting on the safety measures, as it does not possess an underwater-rescue vessel even though it has an agreement with a leading foreign navy that it will provide immediate help in case of an accident.
The 12,000-tonne submarine is touted to be Russia’s most-advanced. It is deadly, quick and the quietest (enhancing stealth ability) in the world. India wants to train its personnel on operating a nuclear-powered submarine. It has been re-christened INS Chakra. It is expected to provide necessary expertise to operate its indigenous under-development nuclear submarine. It is expected that India’s own developed vessel is likely to join the naval service in about five years.
