OREANDA-NEWS.  January 23, 2012. An official ceremony transferring the nuclear-powered attack submarine K-152 Nerpa to the Indian Navy representatives was held on Monday in the town of Bolshoi Kamen based in Primorsky Territory, the Russian presidential envoy in the Far Eastern Federal District press office reports.

Under the contract worth more than USD 900 million, the submarine Nerpa (NATO: Akula II) has been leased to the Indian Navy for 10 years.

Russian and Indian crews participated in sea trials conducted in the Pacific Ocean at various depths.
The Indian Navy will rename the warship as INS Chakra, the name of the first nuclear submarine leased out for 3 years by the Soviet Union in 1988.

The K-152 Nerpa was supposed to enter service in the Indian Navy back in 2008 but an accident that occurred onboard the submarine during tests in November 2008 when twenty Russian sailors died delayed the transfer.