The Akula-class submarine is a Russian nuclear-powered attack submarine, known in Russia as Project 971 Shchuka-B. It is different from a ballistic missile submarine because its main role is not nuclear missile deterrence, but sea-denial, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence gathering and escort operations.
For India, the Akula-class is important because India has leased such submarines from Russia under the name INS Chakra. These submarines have helped the Indian Navy gain experience in operating nuclear-powered attack submarines.
Type and Capability
The Akula-class is an SSN, meaning a nuclear-powered attack submarine.
It should not be confused with an SSBN, which carries nuclear ballistic missiles for strategic deterrence.
| Type | Full Form | Main Role | Indian Example |
| SSN | Nuclear-powered attack submarine | Hunting enemy submarines and ships | INS Chakra, leased Akula-class |
| SSBN | Nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine | Nuclear deterrence and second strike | INS Arihant, INS Arighaat |
An SSN like the Akula-class is useful because nuclear propulsion gives it long underwater endurance. Unlike diesel-electric submarines, it does not need to surface frequently for air. This makes it more suitable for long-range patrols, tracking enemy vessels and operating in distant waters.
Its broad capabilities include:
- anti-submarine warfare
- anti-surface ship operations
- intelligence and surveillance missions
- escorting aircraft carriers or SSBNs
- long-duration underwater patrols
India’s Akula-Class Experience
India’s experience with Akula-class submarines is closely linked with the INS Chakra series.
India first leased a Soviet nuclear submarine in the late 1980s under the name INS Chakra. Later, India leased another Akula-class submarine from Russia, also commissioned as INS Chakra, which served with the Indian Navy from 2012 to 2021.
This experience was important because operating a nuclear submarine requires specialised training in:
- nuclear propulsion management
- underwater endurance operations
- submarine stealth tactics
- reactor safety procedures
- deep-sea operational planning
- crew training for future indigenous nuclear submarines
India signed a deal with Russia in 2019 for the lease of another Akula-class submarine, often referred to as Chakra III. The deal was reported to be worth about $3 billion for a ten-year lease. Earlier delivery was expected around 2025, but later reports indicate delays, with delivery now expected closer to 2028.
Strategic Importance for India
The Akula-class matters because India currently needs nuclear-powered attack submarines to strengthen its underwater capability in the Indian Ocean.
India has developed indigenous SSBNs such as INS Arihant and INS Arighaat, but SSBNs are meant primarily for nuclear deterrence. They are not designed to perform the full range of attack-submarine missions.
An Akula-class SSN helps India in three ways.
First, it gives the Navy operational experience in nuclear-powered attack submarine handling.
Second, it can support the protection of India’s SSBNs by tracking hostile submarines and securing patrol areas.
Third, it strengthens India’s ability to monitor the Indian Ocean, especially as Chinese naval activity increases through submarines, research vessels and surface combatants.
The leased Akula-class submarines are therefore a bridge between India’s present capability and its planned indigenous SSN programme.
Specific Concerns
The biggest concern is India’s dependence on leased Russian submarines for SSN experience. Leasing helps fill an immediate capability gap, but it does not replace the need for an indigenous nuclear-powered attack submarine programme.
The second concern is delivery delay. INS Chakra was returned to Russia in 2021, leaving India without an operational leased SSN. The next leased Akula-class submarine has reportedly been delayed, creating a capability gap.
The third concern is maintenance and modernisation. Older Russian-origin submarines require refits, reactor work, Indian system integration and long-term technical support before induction.
There is also a strategic concern. India’s underwater competition is increasing, especially with China’s expanding naval presence in the Indian Ocean. In this context, delays in SSN availability directly affect India’s ability to conduct long-range underwater surveillance and sea-denial operations.
Conclusion
The Akula-class submarine is a Russian nuclear-powered attack submarine that has played an important role in India’s nuclear-submarine learning curve.
For India, its importance lies less in the platform itself and more in the operational experience it provides for SSN handling, underwater endurance and future indigenous nuclear submarine development.
The delay in the next leased Akula-class submarine highlights India’s larger challenge: moving from leased capability to a credible indigenous SSN fleet.
