India has agreed to lease a nuclear-powered attack submarine from Russia in a deal valued at roughly $2bn, concluding protracted negotiations just as Vladimir Putin makes a rare visit to New Delhi, Bloomberg reports. The arrangement follows nearly a decade of intermittent talks that were frequently slowed by cost discussions and technical planning.

Indian officials visited a Russian shipyard in November to settle the remaining details. New Delhi expects to receive the vessel within two years, though the level of engineering involved means delivery could extend beyond that timeline. The submarine is intended to expand the navy’s fleet of nuclear-powered platforms, complementing two existing boats already in service.

Putin’s arrival marks his first trip to India since the launch of Russia’s full-scale assault on Ukraine. His meeting with Indian PM Narendra Modi is set to underline enduring defence and energy co-operation, even as New Delhi pursues broader diversification in its security partnerships. India has in recent months strengthened engagement with both Moscow and Beijing, while simultaneously managing friction with Washington over tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. New Delhi is currently seeking to ease those duties as part of broader trade discussions.

According to reports, India’s naval leadership has signalled that the commissioning of the new attack submarine is imminent, without elaborating. The platform will be larger than India’s current leased Russian-built boats, which formed a core component of the navy’s earlier nuclear-propulsion experience. The previous leased submarine was returned in 2021 after a decade in Indian service.

Under the terms of the agreement, the vessel will not be deployed in combat operations. Its primary role will be to support training and operational development as India expands its domestic nuclear-submarine programme. Maintenance and support services form part of the contract, extending Russia’s technical role in India’s undersea capabilities for another ten years.

The lease comes as interest in nuclear-powered submarines grows across the Indo-Pacific. Australia is developing similar boats with the UK and the US through the AUKUS partnership, while South Korea is exploring options with Washington. Only a handful of states possess the technology to operate such craft, underscoring their strategic value.

India continues to balance its long-standing relationship with Moscow against deeper defence ties with Western partners. Although Russian systems account for a diminishing share of Indian procurement, Moscow remains central to areas such as nuclear propulsion. India is preparing to commission its third ballistic-missile submarine next year and is progressing with two domestically built nuclear-powered attack submarines, signalling a sustained commitment to an expanded sea-based deterrent.