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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told visiting President Vladimir Putin last week that Russia will remain India’s top defence supplier.
The submarine belongs to the same Project 971 as the Nerpa submarine which India leased from Russia in 2011 for 10 years at a cost of $970 million. It was commissioned as INS Chakra in April 2012.
Parrikar indicated that India was interested in getting one for training purposes. Russia has been, for years, India’s top weapons supplier.
Russia’s 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.
The Modi-administration agreed to assemble 400 Russian multi-role helicopters a year.
Pending joint projects include developing a joint fifth-generation fighter jet and a multi-role transport aircraft.
Modi has vowed to build up India’s military capabilities and gradually turn India, the world’s largest arms importer into a manufacturer.
India spent about $6 billion last year on weapons imports.
TBP