Submarines Article Index : Current 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
 Latest
 News 		  Most
 Read 		  Most
 Commented		  Hot
 Topics

December 10, 2002

Indian newspapers are reporting that Russia is prepared to lease a Typhoon SSBN to India for three years. The Typhoon is the largest submarine in the world. Only six were built in the 1980s, but only two are still in use. Two are waiting to be scrapped and two are available for service, or lease to a foreign nation. The Typhoons are huge (23,000 tons on the surface) and require a crew of 160. The boats can carry 20 missiles. The Indians leased a Russian Charlie class nuclear sub from 1988 to 1991. The Charlies carried cruise missiles, and India has indicated that it will build it's own version of the Charlie class boats, firing an Indian designed cruise missile (with a nuclear weapon.) Since the 1990s, India has been using small Russian nuclear power plant that could be used in a submarine. India and Russia have also been cooperating on the design of cruise missiles. Russia needs the money for its starving arms industries and India needs the technology. Both countries could "cooperate" on the design of a new ballistic or cruise missile for nuclear subs.