India Tests K-4 Missile from INS Arighaat

India has achieved a significant milestone by successfully testing the K-4 nuclear-capable ballistic missile with a range of 3,500 km from the nuclear-powered submarine INS Arighaat in the Bay of Bengal. This test strengthens India’s nuclear deterrence and places the nation among the select few capable of launching nuclear missiles from land, air, and sea.

Key Highlights

K-4 Missile Test Details

• Missile Type: Nuclear-capable ballistic missile.
• Range: Approximately 3,500 km.
• Platform: Tested from INS Arighaat, a nuclear-powered submarine.
• Location: Bay of Bengal, off the coast of Visakhapatnam.
• Significance: First submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) test from a submarine.

Strategic Importance

• Nuclear Triad: India joins a select group of nations capable of deploying nuclear missiles from land, air, and undersea.
• Strengthened Deterrence: Enhances India’s strategic and nuclear deterrence capabilities.
• Indigenous Systems: The INS Arighaat features systems conceptualized, designed, manufactured, and integrated by Indian scientists, industries, and naval personnel.

Recent Missile Development

• India has test-fired a range of missiles in recent years to enhance overall military capabilities.
• Over 10 days ago, India successfully tested a long-range hypersonic missile off the coast of Odisha.

Hypersonic Missiles

• Capabilities: Fly at Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound) or higher.
• Advantages: Highly maneuverable and agile, capable of mid-course trajectory changes.
• Competitors: Russia and China lead in hypersonic missile technology, while the US is actively developing such systems.

Global Context

• India’s increased focus on military capabilities is in response to China’s growing military assertiveness.