In Pictures: Indian Submarine Seen Transiting Through Malacca, Singapore Straits; Likely Headed Towards South China Sea

A submarine of the Indian Navy was seen transiting through the Malacca and Singapore Straits on Thursday and Friday ( 3 and 4 March).

The boat, most likely the 8,000-tonne nuclear-powered attack submarine INS Chakra (launched as K-152 Nerpa in October 2008), is headed towards Vladivostok, automatic identification system (AIS) data suggests. It may pass through the South China Sea on its journey towards the Russian port.

According to AIS data posted by open-source intelligence handle @detresfa_ , the submarine left Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh on 27 May.

Euan Graham, a security expert based in Singapore, posted the pictures in which the boat can be seen crossing the Singapore Strait, which lies between the Strait of Malacca in the west and the South China Sea in the east.

The submarine was leased by the Indian Navy from Russia in 2011.

Reports say the submarine is going back to Russia as the ten year lease for the submarine ends in January 2022.

India has already signed a $3 billion deal with the Russian government to lease another nuclear-powered attack submarine. The leased submarine is expected to take at least five years to be ready for induction into the Indian Navy.