Indian Navy’s sole nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN), INS Chakra (S-71) has suffered “some damage” in an accident and could require substantial repair work to get it back in shape, The Print reported.

According to the report, the submarine — currently India’s only operational nuclear-powered vessel — suffered damage to its sonar dome in the accident.

The damage could be the result of either a collision at sea or accidental scraping while entering the harbour, report added citing sources.

Further details of the incident are yet to emerge and the Indian Navy refused to comment on the incident.

INS Chakra:

INS Chakra (S-71) is a Project 971 Akula-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the Indian Navy.

The 8,140-tonne (8,010-long-ton) submarine was leased to the Indian Navy for 10 years, for close to $1 billion, in 2011 after extensive trials, and was commissioned into the Navy’s Eastern Naval Command as INS Chakra II at a ceremony in Visakhapatnam on 4 April 2012.

The vessel is powered by a 190 MW reactor which enable it to reach speeds of over 30 knots. The vessel is manned by 80 crew members and is equipped with tactical missiles, a new fire control systems, sonars and contemporary optronic periscopes and surveillance systems.

While K-152 Nerpa was undergoing sea trials in the Sea of Japan on 8 November 2008, a fire suppression system was accidentally initiated. The accident killed 20 civilian specialists and navy crew members and injured 21 others.

The similarly named Chakra (K-43) was a Charlie I-class submarine leased by India from Russia 1988–1992.

Indian Navy is now moving ahead with its plans to lease another nuclear attack submarine from Russia for an estimated $2.5 billion that will include the refit of the boat at a Russian shipyard, followed by a 10-year deployment with the Navy. The new ship is likely to be inducted after the completion of the lease period (2022) of Chakra.





