Russia has proposed transferring three upgraded Kilo-class diesel-electric submarines to India for under $1 billion, serving as a critical interim measure amid delays in Project 75I, with negotiations advancing toward a German partnership and first inductions eyed for 2032. Reported on December 18, 2025, following President Putin’s December visit, the modernized vessels—featuring Klub-S (Kalibr) missiles, stealth coatings, and 20-year service extensions—would replace retired units like INS Sindhurakshak (2017), Sindhuvir, and Sindhudhvaj (2022), bolstering a fleet of 16 conventional subs at risk of shrinking to single digits by 2030. From India’s strategic lens, this stopgap sustains underwater deterrence in the Indo-Pacific against China-Pakistan threats, leverages existing Sindhughosh-class logistics at Visakhapatnam, and preserves operational tempo without derailing ‘Make in India’ long-term goals.​