The delivery to India of the Russian Akula-II class nuclear attack submarine K-152 Nerpa has again been rescheduled for next year, a senior Russian official has said.

“Russia will transfer the K-152 Nerpa attack submarine to India on a ten-year lease in March 2011,” Khabarovsk Governor Vyacheslav Shport said.

The $900m Nerpa deal, signed in 2004, was to be initially leased until mid-2008 but delivery was rescheduled to June 2010.

The delayed delivery of the 12,000t nuclear submarine is due to further trials of the vessel, according to The Press Trust of India.