K Missile family

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The K family of missiles (K for 'Kalam')Template:Efn, is a family of submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) developed by India to boost its second strike capabilities and thus augment its nuclear deterrence. Information about this family of missiles has mostly been kept classified. It is reported that 'K missiles' are faster, lighter and stealthier than their Agni missile counterparts.[1][2] High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) developed a new formulation of composite propellant that is more efficient and provide greater thrust compare to Agni missile series. The objective behind the development is to make K missile family faster and lighter without compromising on operational range.[3]

Name Type Range
K-15 SLBM SRBM 750 km-1,500 km (Operational)[4][5]
K-4 SLBM MRBM 3,500 km (In production)[6]
K-5 (SLBM) ICBM 5,000-6,000 km (In development)[7]
K-6 (SLBM) ICBM 6,000 to 8,000 km (In development)[8][9]

Missiles in the series

K-15 or Sagarika missile

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Sagarika SLBM

The Sagarika/K-15 missile (Sanskrit: सागरिका, IAST:Sāgarikā, meaning Oceanic) is the SLBM version of the land-based Shaurya missile.[10][11] With a shorter range than K-4 missiles it is to be integrated with Arihant class submarine concurrently developed for the use of Indian Navy.

Sagarika/K-15 was developed at the DRDO’s missile complex in Hyderabad. The complex consists of the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), the Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL) and the Research Centre, Imarat (RCI).
DRDL designed and developed the missile, while the ASL provided the motors and propulsion systems. The RCI’s contribution was in avionics, including control and guidance systems and inertial navigation systems.[12]

Medium range K-15 ballistic missile has a range between 700 km[5] to 1,500 km[13][14] with varying payload. This will also get help from Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) to ensure guaranteed national access to precision navigation.[15] These will enable high accuracy required for precision strike. The last developmental test of the missile was conducted on 28 January 2013 from an under water launch platform off the coast of Visakhapatnam.[16][17]

K-4 Missile

Template:Main This missile was developed after facing significant difficulties in compacting similarly capable Agni-III to equip INS Arihant.

K-4 is an intermediate-range submarine-launched ballistic missile development by DRDO. It is a 10 m long missile weighing 20 tonnes, capable of carrying a 2 tonne payload up to a range of 3,500 km.[1] INS Arihant, first of the Arihant Class Submarines, will be able to carry 4 K-4 missiles. The K-4 missile was successfully tested on 24 March 2014 from an underwater pontoon submerged 30 m deep.[18] India successfully test fired the 3,500 km strike range nuclear-capable K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile off the coast of Andhra Pradesh on 19 January 2020.[19][20][21] On 24 January 2020, the final trials were carried out by DRDO in which missile achieved the near zero circular error probability and hit the target 3,500 km away. This was carried from INS Arihant and clears all validation test.

K-4 has been completed all the trials and cleared for production by government. It will be used arm the Arihant-class submarine and future S5-class submarine. It will greatly enhance the India nuclear doctrine as K-15 has range of 750 km and it will have the range of 3,500 km.[22]

K-5 Missile

Template:Main K-5 missile is reportedly being developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian strategic forces’ underwater platforms.[23][24] It will arm the future variants of Arihant class submarines of the Indian Navy. Reportedly, DRDO is in the process of developing a submarine-launched solid fuel missile with a maximum range of 5,000-6,000 kilometres.[9] In October 2020, Hindustan Times reported that the missile is currently under development and is expected to be tested by 2022.[7]

K-6 Missile

Template:Main K-6 missile is SLBM which is reportedly under development by Defence Research and Development Organisation's (DRDO) Advanced Naval Systems Laboratory in Hyderabad. It is a three-stage solid fuel MIRV capable missile with a length of 12 m, width of 2 m, a payload of 2-3 tonne warhead and a range of around 6,000 to 8,000 km. It will arm the Template:Sclass of ballistic missile submarines of the Indian Navy.[8][9]

Significance

These 'K' missiles are intrinsically important for India's nuclear deterrence arsenal because they provide India with a much needed ideal and invulnerable second-strike capability stated in India's Nuclear Doctrine and thus shift the balance of power in India's favour in the Asian region.[1]

See also

Notes

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References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named IN2day120488
  2. ↑ India activates 'secret' undersea missile. The New Indian Express(11 August 2022). Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  3. ↑ The ‘K’ factor in the recent missile tests, Unnithan, Sandeep. India Today(31 December 2021). Retrieved 2022-01-01.
  4. ↑ K-15 submarine-launched ballistic missiles. The Diplomat. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Front Page : Sagarika missile test-fired successfully. The Hindu(2008-02-27). Retrieved 2013-01-30.
  6. ↑ India successfully test-fires 3500nbse;km range submarine-launched ballistic missile K-4. The Hindu. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 4 missile tests, 1 deployed near LAC in 40 days as India shows intent. Hindustan Times(2020-10-07). Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 India’s Undersea Deterrent. The Diplomat. Retrieved 2017-12-12.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 From India Today magazine: A peek into Indias top secret and costliest defence project, nuclear submarines. Retrieved 2017-12-12.
  10. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named DN20110927
  11. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named H20081113
  12. ↑ Sagarika missile test-fired successfully. The Hindu(2008-02-27).
  13. ↑ 5 things you need to know about K-15, India’s underwater ballistic missile. Firstpost(2011-02-23). Retrieved 2013-01-30.
  14. ↑ India test-fires ballistic missile from underwater platform. Retrieved 2013-01-30.
  15. ↑ Shourya Missile.
  16. ↑ India test fires ballistic missile from underwater platform. Business Standard. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
  17. ↑ India test fires ballistic missile from underwater platform. Thestatesman.net(2010-01-15). Retrieved 2013-01-28.
  18. ↑ Success on debut for undersea launch of missile. The Hindu(8 May 2022). Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  19. ↑ India test-fires nuclear-capable K-4 ballistic missile off Andhra Pradesh coast. WION News(20 January 2022). Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  20. ↑ India successfully test-fires nuclear-capable K-4 ballistic missile off Andhra Pradesh coast. Asian News International(19 January 2020). Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  21. ↑ India successfully test-fires 3,500-km range submarine-launched ballistic missile K-4. The Hindu(2020-01-19). Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  22. ↑ India successfully test-fires 3500 kmkm range submarine-launched ballistic missile K-4. The Hindu. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  23. ↑ India test fires first ever ballistic missile from underwater. Firstpost(2013-01-28). Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  24. ↑ Agni-VI with 10000 km range to be ready by 2014. IBNLive. Retrieved 17 July 2012.

Further reading

  • India's nuclear policy{{#if:Cohen|, Cohen}. Praeger Security International(2008). ISBN 0275999467

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