India Inducts Russian-Made Nepra Submarine

The Indian Navy has officially inducted the Russian nuclear-powered submarine known as Nepra on Wednesday. The move has catapulted India into the elite group of nations having nuclear-powered submarines. The Akula II class Nepra has been rechristened INS Chakra which will soon begin operational patrols along with the INS Arihant, the indigenously built nuclear powered submarine. The second induction will see India with two nuclear submarines guarding its vast maritime boundaries. "Our crews will get the experience of operating under water for several months at a go as unlike the conventional diesel electric submarines, which have to come to surface at regular intervals, nuclear submarines can remain under water for months," Navy officials have been quoted as saying. In 2004, India and Russia inked a deal worth over $900 million for leasing the submarine. It was originally expected to be inducted a few years ago but after Russian sailors died during trials in 2008, the delivery schedule was changed. The nuclear reactor made by Russia has a displacement of 8,140 tonnes. With a maximum speed of 30 knots, the vessel can go up to 600 meters in water and has an endurance of 100 days with a crew of 73. The vessel is armed with four 533mm torpedo tubes and four 650mm torpedo tubes.