A fifth Indian Kilo class diesel-electric submarine has arrived to Russia's Zvezdochka shipyard for an overhaul under a recent contract, the shipyard company said on Thursday.
Russia has built ten Kilo class submarines for India and has already overhauled four of them at the Zvezdochka shipyard in the north of the country, RIA Novosti reported.
INS Sindhurakshak is being upgraded under a direct contract between the Zvezdochka shipyard and the Indian defense ministry, signed on June 4, 2010.
The upgrade program includes a complete overhaul of the submarine, including its hull structures, as well as improved control systems, a sonar, electronic warfare systems, and an integrated weapon control system. The upgrade is reported to cost around $80 million.
Russia's Kilo-class diesel-electric submarines are well-known for being extremely quiet boats, and have been purchased by China, India, Iran, Poland, Romania and Algeria.