The Russians want to scrap a $785 million nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine that India returned without waiting for the end of its lease due to engine problems

The Russians may scrap the K-152 Nerpa nuclear submarine. The cruise missile submarine was on lease, but India returned it due to problems.

Here's What We Know

The K-152 Nerpa was launched in the summer of 2006 as another Kalibr cruise missile submarine carrier. The cost of construction was $785 million. Almost six years after her launch, she was leased to the Indian Navy, where she was named INS Chakra.

India paid about $2bn for the lease, but the nuclear-powered submarine returned to the Russian Federation in the summer of 2021. The Indian Navy decided not to wait for the lease to expire. The reason for this decision was problems with the maintenance of the nuclear submarine, including the nuclear engine.

Later it turned out that in April 2020, the K-152 Nerpa suffered an explosion that damaged the hull, hydroacoustic equipment and electronic warfare. The nuclear submarine has been in Russia for more than two years awaiting repairs.

Modernisation and repair of the K-152 Nerpa is considered financially inexpedient. Therefore, the Navy's main command recommends that the nuclear submarine be scrapped.