The Indian navy took delivery of a Russian nuclear attack submarine on Monday, after a seven-year wait due in part to a deadly accident during testing, dpa reported. An Indian crew took over the warship, INS Chakra, during a flag-raising ceremony in the Pacific coast port Vladivostok, some6,400 kilometres east of the Russian capital Moscow. India is leasing the Akula II-class vessel for ten years in a deal worth 650 million dollars, Interfax news agency reported. Indian and Russian officials agreed to the lease terms in 2004. The submarine had been scheduled for delivery to India in 2008,but an accident involving a fire suppression system during sea trials in November of that year killed 3 crew and 17 shipyard workers. Investigations into the accident and subsequent disputes between Russian builders and Indian navy officials over the vessel's fit-out delayed the delivery. The Akula II is one of Russia's most modern submarine designs, equipped according to its builders with state-of-the-art weaponry and sound-dampening equipment. The Chakra is due to reach its new home port in India by the end of January, according to news reports.
