INS Chakra, a nuclear powered attack submarine of the Akula class was inducted formally into the Indian Navy by Defence Minister A.K. Antony at the Ship Building Centre, Visakhapatnam, on April 4, 2012, in the presence of Admiral Nirmal Verma, Chief of the Naval Staff and Vice Admiral Anil Chopra, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command. By reviving the capability to operate the technically complex nuclear submarine through this induction, India has joined an elite league of six nations that boasts of this distinction. The ceremony was also attended by Minister of State for Defence M.M. Pallam Raju, Alexander M. Kadakin, Russian Ambassador to India, high ranking officials from the Navy, Department of Atomic Energy and the Russian Federation.

The Indian Navy commenced operating submarines in 1967, and in a short span of 20 years, graduated to operating nuclear submarines, when it leased a Soviet Charlie class submarine, named Chakra, between 1988 and 1991. In true naval tradition, the legacy continues with the new Chakra, in a much more modern and sophisticated avatar. Commissioned on January 23, 2012, at Vladivostok, Russia, INS Chakra touched the Indian shores as a submariners’ dream come true, with deadly firepower, tremendous sustained speeds and practically unlimited submerged endurance. The nuclear-powered attack submarine, INS Chakra with lethal ‘hunter-killer’, SSN and intelligence gathering capabilities, has been inducted on a 10-year lease from Russia at an approximate cost of $1 billion ( Rs. 5,500 crore). She would also provide effective protection to Indian Navy’s fleet at sea. The Navy will also use Chakra to train its men in the intricate art of operating the nuclear submarines which was lost with the retirement of all of the trained crew of former de-leased Chakra.

Speaking on the occasion, Admiral Nirmal Verma said that induction of INS Chakra is a major step towards a strong and versatile Navy, as mandated by the regional maritime security environment, in keeping with the balanced growth of our Navy in all three dimensions, and capability augmentation through acquisition of force multipliers. He expressed confidence that INS Chakra would increase our Navy’s operational flexibility and help maintain a credible presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), contributing towards effective blue water operations by the Indian Navy. He added that the 100- metre INS Chakra has propelled India into a select group of countries like the US, Russia, France, the UK and China, to operate nuclear-powered submarine.

Citing this as a momentous arrival that reflects high level of cooperation and strategic partnership between India and Russia, Antony said that over the years, the IOR has assumed great strategic significance, as it is home to a large population and some of the most dynamic and fast growing economies, with India as the geostrategic hub. He emphasised that for peace and stability in the region, and thereby the world at large, it is imperative that the Indian Navy maintains a strong, stabilising and credible presence that while not being directed against any nation, will act as a stabilising force and protect our strategic interests. He reiterated that INS Chakra, or other warships, is not aimed at any country. Towards this end, he said that the induction of INS Chakra is a step in the right direction, as it would no doubt play a major role in reshaping the maritime operations of the Navy in the years to come and ensure security, sovereignty and economic prosperity of the country. He spoke of how the induction of INS Chakra symbolises both the success of the Russian submarine building capability and of the Indian Navy’s competence in exploitation of technologically complex platforms. He extolled the submarine as a ‘shining example’ of the deep and abiding strategic partnership between India and Russia. He also congratulated the Indian Navy for successfully inducting INS Chakra and also extended his heartiest congratulations to the Commanding Officer of INS Chakra and the crew for their painstaking efforts during the challenging phases of training, acceptance and passage to India. India’s defence forces in general and the Navy in particular, have had a long association with Russia. “The lease of INS Chakra is a true reflection of the remarkably strong and close ties between our countries. I am confident that INS Chakra will symbolise both the success of the Russian submarine building capability and the Indian Navy’s competence in exploitation of technologically complex platforms. I take this opportunity to congratulate the Russian Navy, Russian crew, personnel of Amur Shipyard and Vostok Shipyard. I also thank JSC Rosoboronexport for making this lease possible. Their support and cooperation has made it possible to successfully commission INS Chakra into the Indian Navy. I am sure that following in the true spirit of the long-standing strategic friendship between our two great nations, the Russian Federation would extend the requisite technical support to INS Chakra during its operations in India.”

Belonging to the attack or SSN genre of submarines, INS Chakra is commanded by Captain P. Ashokan, an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College and the Naval War College. Captain Ashokan has command experience of two Kilo class submarines besides operational experience of over 25 years. He confidently declared, “We can outrun and overcome any adversary in our neighbourhood.”