Russian President Vladimir Putin is to visit India in September 2025 for the annual India-Russia high-level summit. Part of his defence agenda includes offers of submarines, both conventional and nuclear, and long range cruise missiles. 

Sources told Chakra News that Russia is offering the lease and transfer of a second Akula class nuclear powered attack submarine, at least six refurbished Kilo class submarines and 1500-km Kalibr cruise missiles.

These proposals come at a time when India’s undersea fleet is facing a ‘block obsolescence’ crisis— two-thirds of its conventional submarines rapidly acquired in the 1980s are fast approaching the end of their lives. Their replacements are not due until the mid-2030s. Meanwhile, rivals Pakistan and China are boosting their underwater fleets. This year Pakistan will take the delivery of its first of eight new Chinese-built 039B Yuan class conventional submarines. China has launched the largest submarine building programme post the Cold War, adding between four and six nuclear powered submarines to its fleet each year.

Seven of India’s existing fleet of 17 conventional submarines are the Russian-built Kilo class. Russia has in the past offered to refurbish and sell older Kilo class submarines and to lease a second Akula class nuclear powered attack submarine. That these offers will be raised at the inter-governmental level suggest Moscow is keen on shoring up its influence in the Indian defence market. 

Russia has been India’s topmost defence equipment supplier for five decades. Over 60 % of India’s defence inventory comprises of Russian-origin hardware including T-72 and T-90 tanks, Kilo class submarines and Su-30MKI fighter jets. Both countries jointly produce the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile which India used to devastating effect against Pakistani airbases during Operation Sindoor on May 10, 2025. In recent years, Russian defence supplies to India have been under pressure for multiple reasons. These include competition from the US as a major Indian arms supplier— Washington has supplied over $20 billion in helicopters, drones, transport aircraft and long range patrol aircraft to India. Other significant reasons include India’s drive to reduce defence imports and build its own defence equipment. 

This will be President Putin’s first visit to India since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022. Last July 2024, Prime Minister Modi traveled to Moscow for the 22nd annual Russia-India dialogue, the first high-profile bilateral visit in his third term. 

Moscow’s strategy with New Delhi ahead of the 23rd dialogue seems to be to double down on areas where the US cannot compete— nuclear and conventional submarines— and niche capabilities like the S-500 and Kalibr. The US has never transferred or sold its nuclear powered attack submarines and sells the 1500-km Tomahawk cruise missile only to its closest ally the UK. 

The 1500-km range Kalibr land attack cruise missile offer is  significant because Russia in the past has refused to sell the long range versions of the missile. The Chakra III, a nuclear powered attack submarine India contracted under a $3 billion lease in 2021, was to be equipped with only 500 km-rang versions of the missiles. Russia will offer to upgrade India’s fleet of Kilo class submarines with the capability to fire missiles from all six torpedo tubes. The present Indian fleet can fire missiles from only two of the six torpedo tubes. 

Russia is proposing the sale of six refurbished ex-Russian Navy Kilo class submarines. All units can be upgraded and delivered within six years of contract signing at the rate of one each year. These submarines will be a stop-gap until the induction of the first Project 75I conventional submarines beginning in the mid-2030s.

India has shortlisted a consortium comprising Mazagon Docks Ltd and Germany’s Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) to supply these six conventional submarines for Rs 43,000 crore. 

The lease of a second Akula class nuclear powered attack submarine from the Russian Navy’s fleet will complement the INS Chakra III which the Indian Navy is acquiring under a ten-year $3 billion lease beginning 2028. The Akula class is a nuclear powered attack submarine, capable of staying underwater almost indefinitely as it is powered by a nuclear reactor but carries only conventional weapons. The ‘III’ indicates it is the third such unit to be leased to India, a unique arrangement begun since the days of the Soviet Union. 

The lease of the second Akula, if taken up by India, will stop-gap a capability void pending the induction of the first of a fleet of six Project 77 indigenous nuclear powered attack submarines which India plans to induct by the late 2030s. 

Sandeep Unnithan

Veteran journalist with 30+ years in media, Sandeep Unnithan is a national security expert and author of two acclaimed books, including Black Tornado, adapted into the web series State of Siege.