To return to the main
Nuclear Exports to India entry, see the Nuclear Exports to
India
file.12/5/2004: RUSSIA WILL NOT
SUPPLY LEU FUEL AND ADDITIONAL REACTORS TO INDIA
On 5 December 2004, the final day of Russian president Vladimir Putin's
three-day visit
to India, India's national daily The Hindu interviewed
Federal Atomic Energy Agency director Aleksandr
Rumyantsev, a member of the official Russian delegation. In the interview, Rumyantsev stated
that Russia would not expand its nuclear cooperation with India, as it is bound
by Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) guidelines. Rumyantsev announced that
Russia would not resume the supply of low enriched uranium (LEU) nuclear fuel to
India's Tarapur nuclear power plant. In 2001, Russia provided 50 tons of LEU fuel to the Tarapur NPP. According to Rumyantsev, that supply was provided
for "safety" reasons and could not form part of "usual cooperation." "India at
that time had no fuel. This was the extreme case. You know there was a very
negative reaction from the NSG," he said. Rumyantsev pointed out that the 2001
transfer was part of an understanding with the NSG that no fuel would be
supplied again. Asked by the newspaper if he was aware that the Tarapur NPP was
now encountering the same problem it faced in 2001, Rumyantsev replied, "Yes, I
know. This is the pain of my soul. But what can we do?"[1]
In addition, Rumyantsev refuted speculations that Russia would provide two
additional 1,000 MW reactors for the Koodankulam NPP that is under construction,
again citing Russia's NSG commitments. As of December 2004, two Russian VVER-1000
reactors, each with a capacity of 1,000 MW, were under construction at
Koodankulam.[1]
Asked about the NSG response to Russia's 2000 proposal to allow India to enter
the group as a nuclear weapons' state or an associate member, Rumyantsev
answered that the NSG response was very negative. However, according to the
Russian official, "this question will be solved—India will be a member of the
nuclear club." In Rumyantsev's words, "it will be all right," if India brings
all its nuclear facilities under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
safeguards regime. "But, you know, India cannot show all facilities," he
added.[1]
Reacting to Rumyantsev's revelations, Anil Kakodkar, chairman of India's Atomic
Energy Commission, told The Hindu on 6 December 2004, "We are not vulnerable in
our nuclear power programme. Our domestic programme based on self-reliance is
robust." In response to a question on whether the Tarapur NPP depended only on
LEU as fuel, Kakodkar said, "If we get low enriched uranium, it is the preferred
option. If you don't get it, you have to find alternative solutions. We have
kept an open approach. Let us see how things move." Asked whether the Tarapur
NPP could be run on the mixed oxide (MOX) fuel which India has already
developed, Kakodkar replied, "We have already proved the MOX fuel. We have made
MOX fuel bundles and we have sort of used them in Tarapur. But we have to check
out the technology. We have to reengineer the reactor core to make use of the
MOX. Of course, we can do that." He added that India plans to use the MOX fuel
for the series of fast breeder reactors that the country intends to build.[2]
Asked if India would build its own reactors at the Koodankulam NPP following
Russia's decision not to supply more reactors for the site, Kakodkar said that
"it is good to have similar reactors at the same site. We can build our
Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors at Koodankulam and also somewhere else."
Kakodkar concluded by saying, "The point is that we have always looked upon
external inputs to our nuclear power programme as additionalities. But our
domestic programme is based on self-reliance. These two are separate things. We
have a policy and we will stick to that policy."[2]
3/4/2004: RUSSIA AND INDIA INTERESTED IN EXPANDED NUCLEAR COOPERATION
On 4 March 2004, ITAR-TASS reported that Russia and India were interested in
intensifying their cooperation in the nuclear field. Both parties discussed
joint research on using thorium and safety control management of
operating light-water reactors. Furthermore, India was interested in
participating in the development of a light-water reactor unit with higher
efficiency at the Leningrad NPP.
Concerning this plan, Russian Deputy
Minister of Atomic Energy Vladimir Asmolov stated that Russia was not in a
position to cooperate with India to this extent, since it is bound by the
regulations of the Nuclear
Suppliers Group. However, Russia would assist India in lifting these
bans. In addition to cooperating on the development of a reactor, India
expressed its interest in the construction of an additional two to four reactor units
at its Koodankulam NPP.[1] Aside from this, India and Russia are currently
negotiating the potential lease of floating nuclear reactor plants.[2]
2/16/2004: INDIAN SPECIALISTS
TO BE TRAINED AT KALININ NPP
On 16 February 2004, ITAR-TASS
reported that Koodankulam NPP
personnel have begun training at the Kalinin NPP
training center. The site was selected as its power plant is similar to the
Indian NPP
under construction. According to Oleg Sarayev,
head of
Rosenergoatom,
all Koodankulam personnel will undergo training at Russian nuclear power plants.
1/20/2004:
POTENTIAL RUSSIAN LEASE OF AKULA-CLASS NUCLEAR BOATS AND TU-22MR BOMBERS
On 16 January 2004, an Indian
newspaper reported that during the Russian defense minister's visit to India,
the two countries were to sign an agreement on the sale of the Admiral
Gorshkov aircraft carrier. The $1.5 billion deal would also include a Kashtan-M
air-defense complex, 28 MiG-29K aircraft and 10 Kamov helicopters. Furthermore, it
was reported that negotiations on a possible sale of TU-22MR medium bombers and Akula-class submarines were to be commenced.[1]
Successive commentary by the
Russian defense minister concerning the submarine negotiations clarified that no
agreement on submarines would be signed at this meeting and that there were no
plans for the conclusion of such a contract in the near future.[2] Subsequently,
he declared that nuclear submarines had not been part of the negotiations, while
talks concerning the sale of medium bombers were indeed ongoing.[3,4] However,
the latter were not "strategic in terms of their radius of action."[5]
On 21 January, another Indian newspaper reported that separate
negotiations concerning the bombers had not lead to results and that the carrier
deal would not include either the Kamov helicopters or the Kashtan-M air-defense
system.[6] This could be partially explained by the fact that Ukraine has
allegedly offered
Tu-22M3 bombers at a significantly discounted rate. However, as only
Russia would be able to service the planes and train crews, a Russian lease and
subsequent sale of four Tu-22MR bombers may still be reached in the future.[7]
With a payload capacity of 24 tons and the capability to mount four BrahMos
cruise missiles, both Tu-22MR and Tu-22M3 bombers would represent not only a
significant qualitative increase in the Indian arsenal, but more importantly the
airborne deterrent it desires.[3,8]
Concerning the potential lease of two
Project 971 Shchuka-B
[NATO Name 'Akula']-class submarines, Vedomosti
reported that while Russia initially intended to include such a lease as a
"bonus" to the carrier deal, it later reversed its position given the expected
opposition of the United States.[4] Nevertheless, at no point did the Russian defense minister speak of a categorical
denial concerning a potential Akula lease or sale. Rather, he spoke of no
plans in the near future, opening up possibilities for further negotiation.
However, since India had been in negotiations with France concerning the
acquisition of six Scorpène submarines with air-independent propulsion systems,
it may have been interested in publishing reports regarding possible
negotiations with Russia, providing it with
additional leverage over the French.[9] Moreover, some reports have suggested
that France may be
willing to assist India in equipping Scorpène boats with a miniaturized nuclear
power plant, which would significantly lessen the attractiveness of any Russian
offer.[10]
To finance the aforementioned and an earlier deal with Israel, the Indian
government has already submitted a request for additional funding of $5.5
billion.[11]
2/27/2002: INDIAN
SPECIALISTS TO BE TRAINED AT NOVOVORONEZH NPP
ITAR-TASS reported on 27 December 2002 that Koodankulam NPP
personnel will undergo schooling at the
Novovoronezh NPP training center.
A contract for this training has already been signed by Russia and India. Novovoronezh NPP
is reported to have modern Japanese and French nuclear reactor training
simulators, and is used to train Russian NPP
personnel. In addition, it has trained Chinese, Bulgarian, and Iranian
nuclear technicians.
12/6/2002: MINATOM ON
INDIAN NUCLEAR MARKET PROSPECTS
ITAR-TASS
reported on 6 December 2002 that, according to Minister of Atomic Energy Aleksandr Rumyantsev,
Minatom
considers the nuclear markets of India and China to have the greatest prospects. Rumyantsev
made his comment after President Vladimir
Putin's visits to these
countries. According to
Rumyantsev, India and China are
in favor of expanding
cooperation. Up to 90 nuclear reactors may be built in India alone during
the next 40 years, he said.
12/2/2002: LEASE OF NUCLEAR
SUBMARINE MOVES FORWARD
On 2 December 2002, the Indian Express
reported that India would soon conclude a deal including the purchase of the Admiral Gorshkov
aircraft carrier and a three-year lease
of a Shchuka B-class [NATO name 'Akula II'] nuclear submarine. The paper
cited "highly-placed sources in the military-industrial complex in Moscow" as
saying that details of the lease have been deliberately kept secret by the
Indian and Russian governments for fear of pressure from Western governments. Indian Express
reported that the final price
negotiations took place 10 days previously during Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov's
visit to New Delhi. However, the deal is not expected to be signed during
President Putin's current visit to India, because it would draw too much
attention.[1] Asked about the
Indian Express
report, the Chief of Staff of the
Indian Navy Admiral Madhvendra Singh refused to confirm or deny the report.[2]
President Putin, asked a similar question, answered elliptically, referring to
the limitations Russia's international obligations put on nuclear cooperation
with India, and adding that all cooperation would meet those obligations.[3]
Despite its proliferation implications, the lease of a nuclear submarine,
notably, would violate no international agreements.
12/1/2002: INDIA GAINS ACCESS TO
THE JOINT INSTITUTE FOR NUCLEAR RESEARCH
The Press Trust of India reported on 1 December 2002 that Russia has granted
India access to the Joint
Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna. The decision was made in advance of
a visit by President Vladimir Putin to India, where issues of nuclear
cooperation are to be discussed. An Indian delegation was expected to visit
Dubna to discuss the details of India's participation in advanced nuclear
research.
9/23/2002: REACTOR CONTRACTS
SIGNED
ITAR-TASS
reported on 23 September 2002 that Russia and India had signed three contracts
concerning the delivery of Russian equipment and materials for nuclear power
plants under construction in India. The contracts also specify that Russian
specialists will assist in equipment assembly. The total number of
Russian specialists in India may reach 300. According to
Atomstroyeksport,
the total value of the contracts was $1 billion.
8/20/2002: NUCLEAR SUBMARINES
AMONGST ISSUES EXPLORED DURING VISIT TO
RUSSIA BY INDIAN NAVY CHIEF OF STAFF
The Chief of Staff of the
Indian Navy, Admiral Madhvendra Singh, visited St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg,
and Severomorsk at the end of August 2002 at the invitation of his Russian
counterpart Admiral Vladimir Kuroyedov.[1,2] Talks during the visit focused
upon strengthening military cooperation between the Russian and Indian fleets in
general and upon implementation of current projects. The Indian newspaper The
Asian Age reported on 20 August 2002 that Admiral Singh intended to reaffirm
Indian interest in leasing two Shchuka B-class [NATO name 'Akula II'] nuclear submarines from
Russia. The Asian Age, referring to unnamed sources, also reported that
Admiral Singh planned to raise for the first time the possibility of assembling Akula-class submarines in India.[3] The Indian Naval Chief of Staff inspected
three Indian Naval Service (INS) Talwar-class stealth frigates, the Talwar,
Tabar, and Trishul, currently under construction at the
Baltic Shipyard
in St. Petersburg, and met with Indian Navy personnel receiving training at the
plant.[2,3] Delivery of the first frigate is expected in October 2002 and will
be followed by delivery of the other two ships in the course of the next year.[4] At the
Novator Experimental Design Bureau in Yekaterinburg, which produces the Kalibr-PLE and the Kalibr-NKE (Club)
integrated missile systems, the Indian delegation examined armaments displayed
at the Russia Expo Arms-2002 exhibition.[1] In addition, Admiral Singh conducted
negotiations on the acquisition of the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov,
and visited the Northern Fleet in Severomorsk.[2,3]
4/26/2002: ATOMSTROYEKSPORT BEGINS WORK ON KOODANKULAM NPP
On 26 April 2002, Atomstroyeksport Director Viktor Kozlov
told Interfax that the company has completed the construction of the foundation
for a nuclear power plant at Koodankulam and is now beginning to work on the
reactor section and the plant building. Kozlov said that orders for the manufacture of the facility's main
equipment have been placed at Russian engineering plants.
Izhorskiye Zavody, the St. Petersburg
branch of Unified Engineering Plants (OMZ), has started the construction of the
reactor shell and other equipment for the Koodankulam plant. Two other plants located
in St. Petersburg, Elektrosila and the Leningrad Metal Plant, will fabricate a
turbo-generator and a steam turbine for power unit No. 1 at Koodankulam.
According to Kozlov, assembly of the equipment will begin in 2-3 years.
4/25/2002: OMZ TO SUPPLY EQUIPMENT FOR KOODANKULAM
Interfax reported on 25 April 2002 that the Unified Engineering Plants (OMZ)
company has secured a contract to supply 12,000t of equipment,
including pipes, steam generators, heat exchangers, and reactor frames, for the Koodankulam NPP.
The contract also requires OMZ to assemble the equipment it
provides on the site. The cost of the equipment is estimated at $294 million.
Izhorskiye Zavody, an OMZ branch located in St. Petersburg, will build two water
cooled reactors for delivery in 2005.
3/21/2002:
INDIA'S STANDING COMMITTEE ON DEFENSE SEEKS TO REDUCE DEPENDENCE ON RUSSIAN
ARMS
According to the Indian newspaper
The Hindu, India's Standing Committee on Defense expressed concern
regarding Russia's ability to provide arms reliably and at reasonable prices at
a meeting held
on 20 March 2002. In connection with this, the committee has proposed to
reduce India's reliance on Russian military equipment by increasing purchases
from the West. The Ministry of Defense,
however, does not support the plan. It asserts that switching to the
Western market would not provide a more cost-effective alternative for India
because trade with Russia is already being conducted on commercial terms
in accordance with Western standards. Based on
these factors, some experts predict that regardless of the ongoing
disagreements about the future of Russia as India's main supplier of arms,
India will continue to rely on Russia in the sphere of defense, because of the long
history of military cooperation between the two countries. Nevertheless,
efforts of institutions such as the Standing Committee on Defense will continue
to promote joint development relationships, rather than strictly
buyer-seller deals. A more detailed discussion of these issues is
expected to take place during the upcoming visit to Moscow of Indian Defense
Minister George Fernandes, the primary goal of which will be to finalize equipment purchases.
2/22/2002: INDIAN SUBMARINE
CREW REPORTED TRAINING IN RUSSIA
The Indian newspaper
Hindustan Times
reported on 22 February 2002 that an Indian Navy submarine crew has been
training in Russia for a year. Its training included going to sea aboard an Akula
II-class nuclear attack submarine, which is similar to the submarines that are
reportedly the subject of talks between India and Russia concerning their
possible lease. According to the Indian Navy's commander, Admiral Madhvendra
Singh, the Indian Navy would need two and a half years to acquire skills
necessary to operate nuclear submarines. Although the Indian Navy has already
operated a Russian Charlie-class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine, the
Indian Navy undertook no measures to preserve those skills and, according to
former naval chief Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat,
the nuclear de-skilling
was a deliberate policy. The policy changed in the late 1990s, with renewed
interest in nuclear propulsion for submarines, and the acquisition of nuclear
propulsion simulators for training in 1998.
2/8/2002: INDIA AND RUSSIA SIGN PROTOCOLS ON
MILITARY-TECHNICAL COOPERATION; SUBMARINE DEAL SUSPENDED
On 8 February 2002, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov
and Indian
Defense Minister George Fernandes held a meeting during the course of
which they signed several protocols on military-technical
cooperation and discussed the possible lease by India of four Tu-22M3
long-range bombers and an aircraft carrier, the
Admiral Gorshkov.[1,2] To Russia's disappointment, the two sides were only
able to resolve technical issues concerning the possible lease of the four strategic
bombers and the Admiral Gorshkov. Klebanov expected the contracts to be signed sometime in the
summer of 2002.
However, due to disagreements over price, the negotiations are not expected to
resume in the near future.[3,4] Grani.ru
reported that Klebanov, allegedly without the consent of his
government, asked for a pre-payment of $1 billion, instead of the agreed $500
million, for the Admiral Gorshkov.[5] Furthermore, no
progress has been reported on the possible lease of two Project 971 Shchuka-B [NATO designation 'Akula'] nuclear submarines. According to
the Moscow Times,
the subject was not even broached at the meeting.[2]
According to the Hindustan Times, given India's low defense budget this year, it
is unlikely that India would finalize the nuclear submarine deal in the near
future, despite its high interest and agreement in principle.
Nevertheless, the article emphasizes that acquisition of
nuclear submarines would provide India with the most reliable nuclear weapon delivery
platform.[6]
The US Department of Energy Weekly Report briefly outlined the Indian plan to
renovate its navy, which was submitted for review to the Indian government by
Commander Admiral Madhvendra Singh. It states that the Russian
government had already asked for about $5 million through the year
2010 for the purchase of the submarines.[7] The meeting concluded with the
signing of four protocols on military-technical cooperation. Under the
protocols, Russia and India agreed to cooperate in warship building and
development of land-based systems. Both parties also agreed to work jointly on new high-tech weapons systems, including
a fifth-generation fighter aircraft, and a global surveillance system.[1,2]
1/30/2002: INDIAN NEWSPAPERS DISCUSS NUCLEAR SUBMARINE ISSUES
In an article published in the 30 January 2002 issue of
The Times of India,
Indian Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Madhvendra Singh said he could "neither confirm nor
deny" that India was planning to lease Russian nuclear submarines. Admiral Singh
did say that the training of a nuclear submarine crew would require two and a
half years. Moreover, the skills acquired by Indian naval personnel in operating the Charlie-class
nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine
Chakra have since been lost as many
of the crew of the submarine have already retired. Although the Indian Navy was
satisfied with the performance of the
Chakra, US pressure on Russia
reportedly prevented the lease from being renewed. Moreover, since the domestic
Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) program designed to produce a nuclear submarine
has suffered delays, India would like to lease another Russian submarine
to help Indian crews acquire the skills necessary for operating nuclear
submarines. The Indian Navy sees these submarines as vital for countering its
potential opponents' military presence in the Indian Ocean, particularly that of the
Chinese Navy.[1] Another possible use for the submarines would be as the naval
component of India's nuclear deterrent. In the view of Admiral Singh, any
country adhering to a no-first-use policy requires a nuclear triad, of which the
naval component is the most powerful. The issue of nuclear submarines leasing is
likely to be discussed during the upcoming visit of Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov to India, as is the possibility of leasing two Russian Tu-22M
[NATO name 'Backfire'] bombers.[2]
1/26/2002: INDIA TO LEASE TWO RUSSIAN NUCLEAR
SUBMARINES
Commander-in-Chief of the Russian
Navy Admiral Vladimir Kuroyedov has announced that Russia plans to lease two
nuclear submarines to India. The statement was made during his visit to the
Amurskiy Shipyard in
Komsomolsk-na-Amure in late January 2002. The shipyard is constructing the first
submarine India would lease -- the Nerpa, a Shchuka B-class [NATO name 'Akula
II'] nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN). The second submarine, the Kuguar,
is being constructed in the Sevmash
facility in Severodvinsk. India will provide Russia with financing to complete
construction of the two SSNs, while Russia will train four Indian submarine
crews and provide India with the submarines for five years, beginning in 2004.
The leased submarines are expected to be armed with
Club-S missiles [NATO
name SS-NX-27 'Alfa'].[1] These missiles can be outfitted with supersonic 3M-54E
or subsonic 3M-54EI antiship missiles, 3M-14E land attack cruise missiles or
91RE1 antisubmarine torpedoes. The 3M-54E and 3M-14E missiles can carry a
warhead of up to 400 kg and have a range of about 300 km.[2] UPI quotes Russia's
Rosoboronexport arms sales agency as saying that construction of the submarines
will resume when India makes the first $100 million payment.[3] According to
Indian External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh, during the last four years India
and Russia have signed military contracts worth $10 billion.[4] The submarine
lease may open the door to sales of nuclear submarines and highly enriched
uranium fuel for the submarine's reactors. Although no country has ever sold a
nuclear submarine, such sales are allowed under the nuclear Non-Proliferation
Treaty (NPT) because the treaty does not restrict naval propulsion reactors.[5]
For more items on Russian-Indian military cooperation see the following entries:
10/16/2000
in the Rubin Design Bureau
section, 6/8/2000 in the
Zvezdochka Developments section,
10/24/2000
in the Baltic Shipyard
Developments section, Russian assistance in the
Indian ATV program.
1/3/2002: RUSSIA BEGINS CONSTRUCTION OF TWO NUCLEAR
REACTORS FOR KOODANKULAM NPP
ITAR-TASS reported on 3 January 2002 that Russia has
begun the construction of two units for the Koodankulam NPP. A
contract that was signed on 6 November 2001 specifies that Russia will deliver to
India two
VVER-1000 reactors with a generating capacity of 1,000MW. The
Atomstroyeksport company will be responsible for the construction of the NPP and will sign a
contract with Izhorskiye Zavody on the production of reactors and associated
equipment for the NPP.
11/9/2001: ATOMSTROYEKSPORT DIRECTOR DISCUSSES
RUSSIAN NUCLEAR PROJECTS IN INDIA AND OTHER COUNTRIES
In an interview with Vek on 9 November 2001,
Atomstroyeksport General Director Viktor Kozlov
announced that the company's contract with the Corporation for Atomic Energy of
India to build the Indian Koodankulam
NPP has been approved and will earn Russia about $3 billion.
Approximately 500 Russian industrial enterprises will be
involved in providing services for the construction that is expected to be
completed by 2009. According to Kozlov, Russian nuclear institutions
depend on foreign contracts to provide the necessary income to remain in
operation. Commenting on Russian nuclear projects in other countries, Kozlov
said that the Bushehr NPP in Iran is nearing completion, and the future
construction of a second unit at Bushehr is also anticipated. Russia
is building two units at the Chinese Tianwan NPP, and in Slovakia two completed units
recently went online at the Mochovce NPP. Russian
institutes are currently modernizing the Kozloduy NPP in Bulgaria, and will be bidding
for a contract next year to build a NPP unit in Finland. Kozlov said
that these various projects are a political success for Russia because they
help integrate Russia into the global economy.
11/6/2001: RUSSIA AND INDIA
SIGN AGREEMENT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF TWO NUCLEAR REACTORS AT KOODANKULAM
On 6 November 2001
Atomstroyeksport and the Indian Atomic Energy Corporation signed a general
agreement on the construction of Koodankulam NPP. This agreement follows the
20 November 1988 agreement between the USSR and India on the construction of the
NPP, and a supplementary agreement signed on 21 June 1998. The general
agreement covers the amount of Russian equipment deliveries and services,
mutual obligations, and the NPP construction schedule. In the next two months
the two organizations are expected to sign a contract for preparing technical
documentation for the NPP, and a contract for the production of long
production lead-time items. Contracts will also be signed with individual
Russian firms providing equipment for the NPP.
7/24/2001: RUSSIA AND INDIA AGREE ON THE COST OF
KOODANKULAM NPP CONSTRUCTION PROJECT
On 24 July 2001 the Russian-Indian coordination
committee signed a protocol, which set the cost of the joint Indian-Russian
project to build the Koodankulam nuclear power plant (NPP) in India at $2.97
billion dollars. Atomstroyeksport Director General Viktor Kozlov indicated that this figure may change
slightly in the future. The protocol also set the schedule for
construction. According to Kozlov, Russia and India will sign contracts to
prepare technical documentation for the project by the end of 2001. Both
sides will sign contracts on delivery of reactors and turbines for the NPP
in January 2002. According to the Chairman of the Nuclear Power Corporation of
India V.K. Chaturvedi, Russia will provide India with a loan covering 54% of
the cost of the project at a 4% annual interest rate. The first reactor at
Koodankulam NPP is scheduled for commissioning in December 2007.
6/5/2001: INDIA MAY BUY TWO RUSSIAN NUCLEAR
SUBMARINES
According to a 5 June 2001 report in Kommersant, by
the end of 2001 Russia and India will sign a packet of contracts for a variety
of defense projects, including the completion of two Project 971 Shchuka-B
[NATO name 'Akula'] nuclear-powered attack submarines already under
construction in Russian shipyards. The submarines would be the Nerpa, under
construction since 1986 at Amurskiy
Zavod in Komsomolsk-na-Amure, and the Kuguar, whose construction at
Sevmash
(Severodvinsk) began in 1993. This initiative was reportedly discussed at the
4 June 2001 session of the bilateral Intergovernmental Military and Technical
Cooperation Commission, conducted by Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov, and
Indian Minister of Defense and External Affairs Jaswant Singh.
3/17/2001: ROSENERGOATOM EXPECTS KOODANKULAM NPP
CONTRACT BY END OF 2001
At a press conference in Rostov on 17 March 2001,
Deputy Minister of Atomic Energy Bulat Nigmatulin announced that Rosenergoatom
expects to sign a contract for the construction of a nuclear power plant at
Koodankulam by the end of 2001. According to Nigmatulin, the plant's design was
in the final phases of preparation at the time of the press conference.
The proposed plant would use VVER-1000 reactors. Indian engineers visited the Rostov NPP,
which will also use VVER-1000 reactors, in March 2001 to familiarize
themselves with the start-up procedures for this type of reactor.
2/2001: RUSSIAN OFFICIALS COMMENT ON REPORTS OF
POSSIBLE NUCLEAR SUBMARINE DEAL
Commenting on the reports of ongoing talks on the possible lease of a Russian nuclear submarine to India, Rosoboroneksport arms
export agency Deputy General Director Viktor Komardin stated that India's
military expressed the desire to lease a Russian nuclear submarine. This
would be the first such transaction since India's lease of a Charlie I-class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine,
the K-43 (renamed Chakra while in Indian service), between 1988 and
1991. Since the request concerned leasing a submarine already in service,
according to Komardin, the matter would need to be negotiated with Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief
Admiral Vladimir Kuroyedov. Komardin's comment was made at the Aero-India 2001
exposition held in February 2001 in Bangalore.[1] Nezavisimoye
voyennoye obozreniye reported, however, that Admiral Kuroyedov, while also in India
during a three-ship Pacific Fleet visit to an Indian naval base in Bombay in
February 2001, said that he had no information about a possible lease of a
Russian nuclear submarine already in service to India.[2] Reports of a
possible submarine lease began to circulate in late 2000, shortly after the
signing of the Declaration of Strategic Partnership by Russian and Indian
leaders in October 2000.[3]
8/16/2000: RUSSIA
SUPPLIES INDIA WITH NUCLEAR FUEL IN FACE OF STRONG CRITICISM
On 16 August 2000, representatives of Russia's Machine Building Plant in Elektrostal,
Moscow Oblast, agreed to supply India with approximately 58t of 1.66-2.6% enriched
uranium dioxide for use in its Tarapur Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). Fuel
deliveries were reportedly started in February 2001, and Russia immediately came
under strong criticism.[1] All Nuclear Suppliers Group
(NSG) member
states except Belarus denounced the sales, and claimed that Russia violated
NSG rules by selling nuclear fuel to India, which is not a member of the Non-Proliferation
Treaty (NPT).[1,2] Russian officials responded that the fuel sales are in
compliance with a stipulation that permits the transfer of items without
full-scope safeguards if they are indispensable for further safe operation of
an NPP.[1] US State Department representatives also demanded that Russia
cancel the deal in observation of its commitments under the NPT.[3] The Russian
Foreign Ministry replied that the sales did not violate the NPT, and the
Indian foreign Ministry stated that nuclear fuel for the Tarapur NPP,
including Russian-imported fuel, is under the safeguards of the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).[3]
8/9/2000: CIA REPORT SAYS RUSSIA SUPPLIED
INDIA WITH NUCLEAR ASSISTANCE IN 1999
A CIA report to Congress released on 9 August 2000 said that Russian entities supplied India with nuclear-related assistance in 1999.
For more information, see the 8/9/2000
entry in the General Nuclear Export
Developments file.
9/24/99: LMZ-ENGINEERING NEGOTIATING TURBINE
DEAL WITH KOODANKULAM
According to the press service of the St. Petersburg
company Leningrad Metal Works (LMZ), the recently organized company LMZ-Engineering
is currently holding talks with the Koodankulam nuclear power station in
India to supply the power plant with a 1000MW turbine. The Indian
order would be worth more than $100 million. LMZ also recently signed a
contract with Atomstroyeksport to supply a 1000MW turbine worth $38 million
for Iran's Bushehr nuclear power
plant.
9/20/99: RUSSIA DENIES PLANS TO SELL NUCLEAR SUBMARINES
TO INDIA
Russia's Ministry of Defense denied that Russia was
considering the sale of nuclear submarines to India because such a sale would
violate the terms of the NPT and START II treaties.[In fact, transfers of conventionally-armed
nuclear-powered submarines are not prohibited by either treaty.] According
to Ministry of Defense sources, this issue was discussed during talks which began
on 15 September 1999 between Russian and Indian naval delegations in St. Petersburg.
The Russian delegation was led by Admiral Vladimir Kuroyedov, and the Indian delegation
was led by Admiral Sushil Kumar. The Indian delegation toured the Leningrad
naval base as well as several local naval schools and shipyards, including the
Baltic Shipyard, which is producing India's first frigate.
2/1/99: INDIA MAY BUY NUCLEAR SUBMARINES
FROM RUSSIA
According to experts at the PIR
Center, India is expected to complete its nuclear submarine development
program by 2004. Five nuclear submarines that India is either planning
to build independently or, according to the press, acquire from Russia
may be equipped with missiles with nuclear warheads. Because of insufficient
indigenous development of the non-ferrous metallurgical and electronics
industries, low labor productivity, and insufficient R&D, India cannot
build its own nuclear submarines under a Russian license. However,
Rear Admiral Vyacheslav Apanasenko, Deputy Head of the Russian Navy's Department
for Shipbuilding, Armaments, and Operation, said that India had made no
inquiries either to the Russian Navy or to the Russian government concerning
the acquisition of nuclear submarines. The Indian nuclear submarine planned
under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) program will have a displacement
of 4000 MT, with one propeller shaft and an Indian-made nuclear reactor.
The submarines may be equipped with Russian cruise missiles, most probably
the "Yakhont" supersonic anti-ship cruise missile. Additionally, a Russian
design company is believed to be taking part in the development of India's
"Sagarika" cruise missile.
Page last updated 2 February 2005
Comments or questions? Contact Cristina
Chuen at MIIS CNS: cristina.chuenATmiis.edu.
This material is produced independently for NTI
by the Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the
Monterey Institute of International Studies and
does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has
not been independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers,
employees, agents. Copyright © 2002 by MIIS.
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