Russia passes Nerpa nuclear sub in leasing to India

Russia and India signed an act to hand over the Nerpa nuclear submarine in leasing to India for ten years, a source in the General Staff of the Russian Navy told Itar-Tass on Friday. “The ceremony to sign the document was held on Thursday at the shipyard in Bolshoi Kamen in the Primorsky Territory, where the Nerpa nuclear submarine is currently deployed,” the source said. “The submarine passed successfully all sea trials. After the New Year the Indian crew will begin to serve onboard the submarine and will head her to India in the last decade of January,” he said. The Nerpa nuclear submarine will be registered at the Vishakhapatnam naval base of the Eastern Command of the Indian Navy.