Russia, April 3: Following the reports of India negotiating a deal with Russia for MiG-29 fighter jets, it is reported that the Indian Navy is now considering a proposal offered by Russia’s state-owned JSC United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) for three refurbished Kilo-class submarines. The proposal came as there have been severe issues regarding the shortage in diesel-electric submarines which will affect the Indian Navy.

 

 

Along with this, the USC has also offered another proposal "to conduct refit work on three of the Indian Navy's existing class of Sindhughosh Kilo (Project 877EKM)-class submarines". For the whole deal, the company has reportedly offered a $1.8 billion "three plus three" package.

 

The deal was expected to be in talks at the annual meeting of the Indo-Russian Inter-Governmental Technical Commission (IRIGTC) to be held in Goa this month but was postponed given the travel restrictions due to the coronavirus outbreak.

 

It is reported that the Indian Navy would receive the Russian-made diesel-electric submarine at one-year intervals with the first boat slated for delivery three years after the conclusion of the agreement. The refit of the other submarines that ran in 1990, 1991, and 2000 respectively, would extend their operational life by 10 years.

 

The Indian Navy's fleet of Kilo-class submarines is estimated to number eight vessels currently. One Kilo-class submarine of the Indian Navy, the INS Sindhurakshak, suffered extensive damage after a dockside explosion in Mumbai in 2013 that killed 17 sailors. Another ship, the INS Sindhuvir will be handed over to Myanmar.

 

It is also stated that Russia has three Kilo-class subs are in Murmansk and in the Black Sea Fleet which, at 30 years, are roughly the same vintage as the Indian Navy Kilos. Additional units of the type will not necessitate changes in the training, spares and other infrastructure.

 

There are presently 15 conventional submarines and two nuclear submarines in its fleet- INS Arihant and INS Chakra, the latter being leased from Russia.

 

The Kilo-class submarine has been exported to numerous countries including China, Iran, and Vietnam. Russia is continuing to build an upgraded version of the Kilo-class for its navy.