Final trials of Nerpa (Akula II) SSN earmarked for induction as INS Chakra are back on track, after having been derailed by lack of funding by the Russian government.

October 16, 2009, (Sawf News) - Final trials of Nerpa (Akula II) SSN earmarked for induction as INS Chakra are back on track, after having been derailed by lack of funding by the Russian government.

The trials are now scheduled to start in end November or early December.

"The submarine has undergone a range of sea trials, and [final] state tests will begin in late October or early November, after which the Nerpa will be adopted by the Pacific Fleet," a shipyard spokesman said.

The submarine is expected to be commissioned into the Russian Pacific Fleet in December for operational trials and training.

On October 8, an Amur shipyard official had hinted, sort of threatened, that there could be more delays in the delivery of the Nerpa / Akula II submarine.

In an apparent public airing of dirty laundry, the official had claimed that the shipyard had not received a payment of $60 million (1.9 billion roubles) from the Russian government as submarine repair costs.

"We have not yet received payments for work that has been already done, and today the electricity supply to the Vostok facility was cut [by a local electricity supplier] because we have not been able to pay our debts," the official said.

On successful completion of the final trials, Indian Navy submariners are scheduled to undergo training on the Nerpa together with Russian specialists and servicemen in early 2010.

They will subsequently operate on their own under the supervision of Russian instructors, after which the submarine will be leased to the Indian Navy under the name INS Chakra.

Details of Nerpa (Akula II) SSN lease project maybe viewed at my knol INS Chakra.

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