Soviet submarine K - 43 The K - 43 was a Charlie class nuclear - powered cruise missile submarine operated by the Soviet and Indian navies . It was built between 1964 and 1967 and was commissioned into the Soviet navy on 5 November 1967 . It later served as INS " Chakra " in the Indian Navy from 1988 to 1991 . It was leased to India on 1 September 1987 and reached its base in Vishakapatnam on 3 February 1988 after a long journey . The Soviets said that the submarine was transferred for helping train the Indian Navy in operating nuclear submarines . During its service with India , it was partially manned by a Soviet crew , who reportedly did not allow Indians into the missile room and into the reactor compartment and this is believed to be a reason for the termination of the contract after 3 years . The lease of " Chakra " reportedly helped India gain first - hand experience in handling a nuclear submarine that helped them build the " Arihant " - class of nuclear submarines . Description . The " K - 43 " had a length of overall , a beam of and a draft of . It displaced surfaced and while submerged . The complement of the submarine was about 100 . The boat had one five - blade propeller powered by a VM - 5 pressurised water reactor . It can achieve a maximum speed of when surfaced and when submerged . The K - 43 could carry up to 8 SS - N - 7 Starbright nuclear capable anti - ship cruise missiles . It had six 533 - mm torpedo tubes which could carry 12 torpedoes or 12 SS - N - 15 Starfish anti - submarine missiles . History . In October 1986 , the Soviet Politburo declared that they intend to transfer a " Charlie " - class submarine to India for training purposes . It was the first time a nuclear submarine was ever transferred to any other country . It was decided so as to prove Soviet Union ' s commitment to strengthening India . But some politicians expressed serious negative consequences due to the transfer . However , the politburo headed by Gorbachev decided that the political benefits outweighs the concerns . Transfer to India . A new naval base was constructed at Vishakapatnam with the help of the Soviet Union for handling the submarine . An Indian crew reached a training centre at Kirova for a two - year training course . The Indian Ambassador , Nurul Hasan , visited the Indian crew during this time . Operational history . The submarine was built between 1964 and 1967 and was commissioned into the Soviet navy on 5 November 1967 . After returning to the Soviet Union after its lease to India , it continued to be in service with the Soviet Navy and was finally decommissioned on 30 July 1992 and sold for scrap . Service in the Indian Navy . The submarine left for India on 5 January 1988 from Vladivostok and was commissioned into the Indian Navy on the same day . It passed through the South China Sea and Malacca Strait where it was escorted by an Indian frigate , INS " Dunagiri " . It was constantly tracked by American and Australian P - 3 Orion aircraft throughout the journey . It arrived at Vishakapatnam on 2 February 1988 . The submarine was welcomed by the Indian Prime Minister , Rajiv Gandhi , the Defence Minister , K . C . Pant , the Chief of Naval Staff , G . J . Nadkami , and the commander of Eastern Naval Command , Vice Admiral S . C . Chopra , who sailed in the submarine into the sea . " Chakra " took part in the Presidential Fleet Review of 15 February 1989 at Mumbai when it was watched by millions of Indians on television . Transfer of the submarine gained widespread coverage in the international media with " Time Magazine " calling India an " Awakening Power " , while the Washington Post called it an " Oriental Bully " . The " Chakra " served in both the eastern and western fronts during her service . As the lease agreement ended , " Chakra " departed to the Soviet Union from Vishakapatnam on 16 December 1990 and was escorted by INS " Savitri " throughout its journey . It was decommissioned in January 1991 .