Russia is reported to have offered India the lease of a second Akula-class nuclear-powered attack submarine, a move poised to significantly reinforce India’s maritime posture in the increasingly contested waters of the Indo-Pacific. The submarine in question — the K-519 “Iribis” — represents not just a continuation of the Chakra legacy but also a critical forward leap in India’s long-term undersea deterrence strategy.
The development, though not yet officially confirmed by either side, has been reported by multiple credible sources within Indian defence circles. It comes at a time when India is rapidly overhauling and expanding its naval capacity, particularly its ability to project power well beyond its coastal boundaries — a capability increasingly necessary as the Chinese Navy deepens its reach across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
The Akula-class submarine on offer — the K-519 “Iribis” — was originally laid down at Russia’s Amur Shipyard in 1994 but mothballed during the post-Soviet financial crises. Now, it’s reportedly being considered for completion, refitting, and eventual lease to India under the Indian Navy’s growing SSN (nuclear-powered attack submarine) leasing programme.
The potential agreement is being widely seen as a revival of the long-standing Indo-Russian undersea defence cooperation, which began in the 1980s with the lease of the K-43 (INS Chakra I), and continued with the K-152 Nerpa (INS Chakra II), leased in 2012 and returned in 2021.
With the INS Chakra III (the refitted K-331) still under construction and unlikely to be delivered before 2026–2028, the offer of the K-519 “Iribis” could ensure uninterrupted access to a high-performance nuclear-powered attack submarine for the Indian Navy during this critical transitional period.
India’s calculus is straightforward. The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has dramatically expanded its undersea fleet, with over 60 operational submarines, including at least six Type 093 Shang-class SSNs and six Type 094 Jin-class SSBNs capable of carrying nuclear-tipped JL-2 missiles. These assets have increasingly ventured into the Indian Ocean, often under the pretext of “anti-piracy operations” but with broader strategic intent under Beijing’s “String of Pearls” doctrine.
From Gwadar in Pakistan to Hambantota in Sri Lanka, Chinese submarines have docked in ports built or financed by China, raising serious security concerns for India and its partners in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad).
A second Akula-class SSN would allow India to monitor these deployments more effectively, with a persistent and stealthy underwater presence that can trail and, if necessary, neutralize adversary submarines at key chokepoints such as the Malacca Strait, the Andaman Sea, and the Horn of Africa.
The Akula-class remains one of the most advanced and stealthy designs from the Russian naval inventory. Known for its quieting technology, ability to operate at depths beyond 600 meters, and underwater speeds exceeding 30 knots, it also boasts an impressive payload — including 533 mm heavyweight torpedoes and land-attack Kalibr cruise missiles with ranges over 1,500 km.
These capabilities make the Akula platform not just a hunter-killer asset but also a strategic deterrent — a critical component of India’s evolving doctrine of “credible minimum deterrence” that extends into the maritime domain.
While some analysts question whether India should continue to lease foreign submarines rather than focusing entirely on its indigenous SSN programme, the experience gained through operating advanced foreign platforms is viewed as a vital stepping-stone.
According to defence analyst Commodore (retd.) Uday Bhaskar, “Operating a second Akula will ensure operational continuity and provide valuable training for Indian crews and engineers — a bridge to the future when India fields its own nuclear attack submarines.”
India’s 2019 agreement with Russia for the current INS Chakra III submarine was worth nearly $3 billion — and early estimates suggest a similar price tag for the potential lease of the K-519 “Iribis.” That price would:
- Completion of unfinished hull construction
- Integration of Indian and Russian combat systems
- Installation of advanced sonar and radar suites
- Reworking of the nuclear propulsion plant
- Modernisation of weapon control and communication systems
Given the prevailing geopolitical uncertainties and the costs of developing indigenous nuclear submarines — projected at over $5 billion per hull — a second lease is being justified as a cost-effective option for immediate capability enhancement.
Laid down in 1994 but frozen due to economic crisis, the K-519 hull is reportedly 40–45% complete, with its structural integrity preserved in dry dock storage. Indian naval engineering teams, according to sources, have already inspected the hull in Russia’s Far East and submitted preliminary assessments on the scope and timeline for its completion.
Should the deal go ahead, the K-519 “Iribis” would be the first new-build Akula-class submarine transferred for foreign lease — a signal that Moscow is willing to prioritise high-value defence deals with India, even as it reorients its own shipbuilding towards post-Ukraine needs and Arctic deployments.
China is aggressively pushing to deploy next-generation submarines equipped with air-independent propulsion (AIP) and nuclear-powered propulsion systems. The newer Type 093B SSNs and the upcoming Type 095-class subs are expected to rival the capabilities of Western designs, with lower acoustic signatures, longer endurance, and the ability to launch YJ-18 anti-ship missiles from vertical launch systems.
In contrast, India currently operates just one SSN on lease, alongside a fleet of aging diesel-electric submarines, including Scorpène-class boats built under the Project 75 programme. While effective in littoral environments, these submarines lack the endurance, speed, and power projection capacity of nuclear-powered platforms.
The looming asymmetry is prompting Indian strategists to treat undersea warfare not as a supporting arm but as a central element of the country’s deterrence architecture.
India’s long-term submarine strategy rests on its classified Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) programme. Under this initiative, India has already developed and deployed the Arihant-class nuclear ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), aimed at providing a second-strike capability.
The next frontier — developing a fleet of indigenous SSNs — is already underway, with at least six nuclear attack submarines planned. These are expected to begin sea trials in the early 2030s. However, delays, technological complexity, and infrastructure bottlenecks make the Akula lease programme a necessary interim solution.
The Indian Navy also hopes to integrate these platforms with its expanding Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) capabilities, including P-8I Poseidon surveillance aircraft, MQ-9B drones, undersea sensor networks, and future helicopter-based dipping sonar platforms.
India’s pursuit of a second SSN aligns closely with its deepening ties with Quad partners — particularly the United States, Australia, and Japan. As the Quad’s maritime ambitions expand to include joint exercises, domain awareness sharing, and sea lane protection, India’s ability to field a credible nuclear attack submarine adds weight to its role as a net security provider in the IOR.
In fact, military planners are considering the possibility of forward-deploying SSNs as part of regional patrolling duties in collaboration with like-minded navies. This reflects a shift from reactive maritime security to active deterrence and force projection, particularly as tensions rise in the South China Sea and Western Pacific.
The implications of leasing the “Iribis” go far beyond operational capability. It is a message to adversaries — and partners — that India is prepared to shape the undersea battlespace, not merely react to it.
Retired Rear Admiral Sudarshan Shrikhande notes: “If integrated smartly with India’s growing ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) and ASW capabilities, a second Akula will shift the regional naval balance. We must think beyond platforms and towards undersea domain dominance.”
While many questions remain — particularly regarding funding, project timelines, and the extent of technology transfer — the strategic logic behind the proposed K-519 “Iribis” lease is gaining traction in South Block.
In a world where undersea warfare is once again emerging as the decisive domain in great power competition, India’s calculated move to reinforce its Chakra-class lineage reaffirms its commitment to sustaining credible deterrence and safeguarding regional stability.
