News of India's decision to lease a second Project 971 Akula I-class nuclear-powered attack submarine from Russia comes only a few days after Pakistan signed a deal to acquire eight S20 diesel-electric attack submarines from China.

The underwater arms race between the two rivals shows no signs of slackening as India will likely lease as third Akula I-class sub (this one an improved version) that will join the Indian Navy in the early 2020s.

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The acquisition of both these Akula-I class boats in addition to the INS Chakra, an Akula II-class sub that joined the Indian Navy in 2012, will give India a qualitative advantage over Pakistan, which operates no nuclear powered attack submarines (SSN).

SSNs can operate far longer, dive far deeper and are quieter than conventional diesel-electric subs such as the S20-class Pakistan recently bought from China.

Indian media said the deal to lease the second Akula-class boat was reached during the 17th annual India-Russia bilateral summit at the western Indian state Goa last Oct. 15. The deal will cost India $2 billion.

Russian media revealed the agreement, saying a source at the Russian Federation's Ministry of Industry and Trade confirmed "the long-discussed lease to transfer a multipurpose Project 971 nuclear submarine to India from the Russian Navy was signed in Goa."

The Akula I-class submarine expected to arrive in India in 2018 has been identified as the K-322 Kashalot (Sperm Whale), one of only three operational Akula I-class subs in the Russian Navy. The Kashalot is 28 years-old and is considered obsolete by the Russian Navy.

The Kashalot served with the Russian Pacific Fleet before being retired from active service to undergo overhaul and modernization. She was laid down in September 1986 and commissioned in December 1988. There were originally seven Akula-1 subs commissioned into the Russian Navy from 1984 to 1990.

India began negotiations with Russia to lease the K-322 in January 2015. Under the contract, Russia will modernize the Kashalot in accordance with the requirements of the Indian Navy. Work will take place at the Amur Shipyard, which is where the K-322 is right now.

Russian media said India wants to lease the sub for 10 years and will have the option to buy it afterwards.

The K-322 is armed with torpedoes and cruise missiles. It has a displacement of 12,770 tons submerged and a submerged speed of 65 km/h.

The third Akula-class boat India plans to lease has been identified as the Irbis (no hull number) an improved Akula-I. Construction of the boat was stopped when she was 60% complete. She will be completed prior to joining the Indian Navy.

TagsProject 971 Akula I-class nuclear-powered attack submarine, Indian Navy, India, INS Chakra, Pakistan, K-322 Kashalot (Sperm Whale), Irbis