The strategic missile-carrying submarines will become a landmark in Russia’s defence project

March 18: Upgraded submarines of the Borei and Yasen projects will form the backbone of the Northern Fleet in 15-20 years to come, the Northern Fleet’s commander, Nikolai Yevmenov, told the media on Monday.

"As new ships replace those withdrawn from service upon the expiration of the natural life cycle unification will occur in a natural way and there will remain two or three projects of strategic and multirole submarines. In 15-20 years to come the upgraded submarines of the Borei and Yasen projects will constitute the backbone of the Northern Fleet," Yevmenov said.

"We expect that in the long term, after the completion of all tests this year the Northern Fleet will be reinforced by the first samples of these projects - the strategic missile-carrying The Knyaz Vladimir and the multirole submarine The Kazan. Both will be meant for operations in high latitudes of the Arctic Ocean under the ice cap," Yevmenov said.

He recalled that the Northern Fleet currently had ten nuclear-powered submarines of different projects.

"One diesel-electric submarine is the well familiar Varshavyanka. One diesel-electric submarine of project 667 the Lada is in the test operation phase. All are configured for service in the northern and southern latitudes," Yevmenov said.

He recalled that last year the strategic missile The Tula (project 667) and multi-role nuclear-powered submarine The Gepard (project 971) resumed duty after repairs and upgrade. "They have repeatedly performed various missions on the high seas and will remain in service for no less than ten years," he added.

On March 7, India sealed a USD 3 billion deal with Russia for the leasing of a nuclear-powered attack submarine for the Indian Navy for a period of 10 years.

In October last year, India inked an agreement with Russia to procure a batch of the missile systems at a cost of Rs 40,000 crore. India went ahead with the deal notwithstanding the US's warnings against it.

An agreement was reached between Russia and India after six years of negotiation. Called the Chakra III by the Indian Navy, the Russian Akula-1 class submarine will likely be delivered to India by 2025.

A number of members of the US Congress raised with Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale the issue of India signing a deal with Russia for a nuclear submarine last week, official sources said Saturday.

Gokhale clarified that India finalised the deal for the leasing of a nuclear-powered attack submarine from Russia and it was not an acquisition or a purchase, they said.

The Chakra III will be India’s third Russian-acquired nuclear attack submarine. This submarine will replace the Indian Navy’s INS Chakra, another Akula-class submarine leased from Russia in 2012. India acquired its first nuclear attack submarine from Russia in 1988, which India held until 1991.