India’s “Most Ambitious” missile, codenamed K-4 was recently test-fired from the nuclear-powered submarine INS Arihant somewhere in Bay of Bengal. Various news agencies have accessed the first images of this secretive weapon system that has almost never been seen before in flight.
The missile was fired from around 20 metres under water from the submarine and it hit the target after covering 700 kms distance. In its full capability, the K-4 can strike targets up to a range of 3500 kms.
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About the K-4 missile:
- Although the missile is yet to get its actual name, it was being developed under a secret project, code named K-4, which is part of the K-family of missiles, a series of Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs).
- K-4 is capable of carrying nuclear warheads. It is named after the Missile Man of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.
- The K-4 SLBM has a range of 3,500 km.
- The missile is 10-12 metres long and 1.3 metres wide with a solid-fuelled engine.
- It weighs 17-20 tonnes and can carry a nuclear payload of up to 2,000 kg.
- The missile was developed exclusively for INS Arihant, as the Agni-III missile could not be fitted in the submarine.
- K-4 is indeed a derivative of the Agni ballistic nuclear missiles already in service. This will make K-4 the most potent part of India’s nuclear deterrent.
- INS Arihant can carry 12 smaller K-15 missiles or four larger K-4 missiles.
- The DRDO, which developed this missile also have plans to develop three more K-series missiles. This includes the K-5 missile which will have a strike range of more than 5,000 km capable of hitting targets deep inside China.
- While the K-4 missile has more developmental trials before being inducted in the armed forces, its shorter version 750-km range K-15 (renamed as B-05) is ready for induction.
The missile test is being seen as a huge step forward for country’s nuclear weapons programme and strategic deterrent. Before India’s K-4 missile launch, only United States, Russia, China and France could successfully launch an undersea nuke-powered ballistic missile.
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