October 30,
2008 The second Russian Akula II SSN (nuclear attack submarine) is now
undergoing sea trials in the Pacific. The first Akula II was finished in the
1990s, but two others had work suspended on them for a decade. Then there were
rumors that, three years ago, that India had arranged to lease two Akula IIs,
for $65 million a year per sub.
The 7,500
ton Akula IIs have 14 torpedo tubes (including six that are outside the
pressure hull, 40 torpedoes or missiles, and a crew of 51. Russia officially
denies that there is a lease deal with India, but there has been a lot of
activity on the Indian end to indicate preparations to receive one or two
Akulas (training, base building). India did lease a Russian nuclear sub (a
Charlie I class) from 1988 to 1991.
