Putin orders delivery of Akula N-sub to India by year-end

Khabarovsk (Russia), May 12: Russian Premier Vladimir Putin has ordered the delivery of the Akula-II class nuclear-propelled attack submarine to the Indian Navy by the end of this year, a top Kremlin official said.
"On Monday during Vladimir Vladimirovich's (Putin) visit to Amur Shipyard the issue was discussed in detail and he took far going and courageous decisions. He ordered to complete trials of the submarine and deliver it to Indian Navy by the end of this year," Russian Presidential Envoy in the Far Eastern Federal District Viktor Ishayev today told PTI.

Putin also allocated USD 300 million for successful completion of the project. Ishayev said Putin has decided to re-instate state control on the strategic shipyard situated in Komsomolsk-on-Amur in the Khabarovsk region bordering China.

"The Prime Minister will sign the orders within a week to release 1.1 billion roubles (USD 300 million) to foot the bill for the repair of the submarine and complete pre-delivery trials," Ishayev disclosed.

On November 8 in the course of sea trials of the Shchuka B Nerpa nuclear attack submarine (NATO classification - Akula-II) built for lease to Indian Navy, an accident took place due to release of toxic freon gas killing 20 sailors and injuring 17 others. PTI