Behind the Russian Sub Disaster | Newsweek International

Tragedy Under The Sea

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Was Nerpa supposed to be leased to India for 10 years? Why have Russian officials been so reluctant to talk about this deal openly?
Barabanov: As far as I know, the submarine will still be leased to India as planned, but the schedule for delivery might be delayed. India demanded secrecy from Russia on this agreement, because they feared that the U.S. might [exert] political pressure to prevent the deal.

Does Russia supply nuclear submarines to anyone else besides India?
Barabanov: Only to India. From 1987 to 1991, India rented an APL K-43, Project 670 submarine from Moscow; that submarine was given back to USSR when the lease agreement expired.

Will this accident affect Russia ' s arms deals with India?
Barabanov: I think this is going to be another serious blow to cooperation with India. India will be even more concerned about the quality of Russian weapons. These kinds of problems are being used by different political groups in India to lobby against buying Russian. I do not think the Indians will refuse to accept the Nerpa, because they don't have many other options. Nobody else is likely to give them a submarine of this class.

The latest news story is about the Ukraine looking to install Russian surface to surface missiles targeted at the proposed US missile installations. I find this a valid, measured response to a measured threat. Georgia's problem was resolved rapidly and with almost no escalation. Russia has an energy dependent economy and energy prices are in the toilet. They are also Euro dependent. This is showing that no matter how much saber rattling is coming from the Kremlin that Russia and company is not a serious real threat any more. We shouldn't let down our guard, but we can afford to put ABMs where we want them in NATO without an active military response from Russia.

India can still purchase German fuel cell subs. Germany has the quiet technology, but that doesn't mean they have to build a quiet sub for India. Leave out enough quiet tech to make the sub detectable to NATO and there is a sellable product which will not be a NATO threat.

The Kursk may not have been a reactor problem, but it did leave a Russian quality nuclear reactor on the sea floor. Fortunately it was in water shallow enough to recover. The exploson was at the other end of the ship and in fairly shallow water this time. We were lucky. Russia trying to build any nuclear sub or surface ship under the current economic situation scares the hell out of me.

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Posted By: The genius @ 12/14/2008 10:31:00 AM

Madness of the USA increases. Do not strain to the priest. All the American priests will be roasted from reciprocal Russian impact. It so now, and through any time in the future. Fairy tales, dreams, the advertising companies, getting of money from the state are employment of the American military strategists.
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Posted By: Doc Howl @ 11/15/2008 9:17:01 PM

"Glenno, Russia does have options. The US missile deployment is purely defensive. Russia is not threatened at all by ABMs. "

Except that we could then strike Russia, and they could not strike back.

Defensive, my ass.
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Posted By: Holly Garfield @ 11/14/2008 1:05:54 AM

The latest news story is about the Ukraine looking to install Russian surface to surface missiles targeted at the proposed US missile installations. I find this a valid, measured response to a measured threat. Georgia's problem was resolved rapidly and with almost no escalation. Russia has an energy dependent economy and energy prices are in the toilet. They are also Euro dependent. This is showing that no matter how much saber rattling is coming from the Kremlin that Russia and company is not a serious real threat any more. We shouldn't let down our guard, but we can afford to put ABMs where we want them in NATO without an active military response from Russia.

India can still purchase German fuel cell subs. Germany has the quiet technology, but that doesn't mean they have to build a quiet sub for India. Leave out enough quiet tech to make the sub detectable to NATO and there is a sellable product which will not be a NATO threat.

The Kursk may not have been a reactor problem, but it did leave a Russian quality nuclear reactor on the sea floor. Fortunately it was in water shallow enough to recover. The exploson was at the other end of the ship and in fairly shallow water this time. We were lucky. Russia trying to build any nuclear sub or surface ship under the current economic situation scares the hell out of me.