Even the most optimistic assessment does not see the first unit being delivered by the end of this decade. The steel-hulled submarines of the Project 971 Schuka-B, designated by the West as Akula class were easier and cheaper to built than the Sierras, and are essentially successors to the prolific Victor class.

It takes six years to build a conventional submarine, and the process leading up to the contract can take as long. According to publicly available data, the submersible is 170 meters long and. The first three Pr. These include a stern and sail which resemble US Navy submarines. The RFP, however, is only the start of a long process of evaluating which of the two shortlisted shipyards-Mazagon Docks Ltd or Larsen&Toubro-can be given a contract. These submarines have a greater focus on creature comforts, featuring a sauna, a swimming pool, sun booths and a gym. The design incorporates many Western design influences.

On July 20 this year, India’s defence ministry floated a Request for Proposals (RFP) to build six SSKs in India under the Project 75I (P-75I) conventional submarine project. It will acquire only three more SSKs this decade and will retire at least four older SSKs. It has projected a requirement of 18 SSKs and six SSNs but has only 14 SSKs and no SSNs. featuring a sauna, a swimming pool, sun booths and a gym. Expert opinion, however, knows what lies behind the traditional Russian veil of secrecy. Common opinion holds that Russian submarines are noisy and technologically inferior to their American and British counterparts. Decades of indecision and the lack of a clear indigenous build programme have left the Navy critically short of submarines, both conventional and nuclear-powered. To build Akula-class submarines, Sevmash constructed a covered berth that still remains the. The Akula class submarine is Russia’s answer to the American Los Angeles class fast attack subs. The Russian offer might appear attractive to the Indian Navy, whose submarine arm is facing a crisis.

Akula class submarine swiming pool