Govt calls $2 billion submarine deal report ‘misleading’ after Putin’s visit
India expects to take delivery of the vessel within two years, although the complexity of the project means it could be later.
New Delhi: The government on Thursday rejected a Bloomberg report claiming India had secured a new $2 billion submarine deal with Russia ahead of President Vladimir Putin’s visit, calling it "misleading.” The PIB clarified that no fresh agreement has been signed and that the submarine lease being referenced is part of an existing 2019 contract, whose delayed delivery has now been rescheduled to 2028.
Earlier, Bloomberg had reported that talks to lease the attack submarine from Russia—previously stalled for years due to price negotiations—had recently progressed, citing unnamed sources. It claimed both sides had agreed on the deal, that Indian officials visited a Russian shipyard in November, and that India expected delivery of the vessel within two years, possibly later given the project’s complexity. However, the government has now clarified that no new agreement exists and that the submarine in question is part of an already-signed 2019 contract whose delivery timeline has simply been revised.
Stronger subs boost India’s defence posture
Putin is scheduled to arrive in India on Thursday for his first visit since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. During the trip, he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reinforce the countries’ long-standing defence and energy ties, according to reports.
India has developed nuclear-capable submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), giving it, in principle, a full nuclear triad with the ability to deliver atomic weapons from land, sea, and air, according to the Nuclear Threat Initiative.
Nuclear-powered submarines offer major advantages over diesel-electric models. They are larger, can stay submerged far longer, and operate more quietly—making them harder to detect, particularly in the vast waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
What is India’s strategic plan?
According to earlier reports, the Russian-designed submarine covered under the 2019 contract cannot be used in combat. Instead, it is intended to help India train sailors and sharpen nuclear-submarine operations as the country continues developing its own fleet. The vessel is to be leased to the Indian Navy for 10 years, similar to the previous Russian submarine that served for a decade before being returned in 2021. The contract also includes maintenance support.
As strategic competition intensifies in the Indian Ocean region, nuclear-powered submarines have become increasingly vital. Australia is partnering with the UK and the US to build such vessels under the AUKUS pact. Traditionally, only a few nations—the US, UK, France, China, and Russia—possessed the technology to design and operate nuclear-powered submarines, though South Korea is now reported to be working with the US on similar capabilities.
While India has strengthened relations with the US and Europe and reduced its overall dependence on Russian weaponry, its continued collaboration with Moscow on nuclear submarine platforms underscores the trust built over decades. India’s third ballistic missile submarine is expected to join its nuclear forces in 2026, and two indigenous nuclear-powered attack submarines are currently under construction.