China and Pakistan find themselves gripped by fear, and the reason is India's formidable submarine-launched nuclear ballistic missile (SLBM). The Indian Navy has recently executed a successful test of the K-4 missile, launching it from the INS Arighaat submarine.
This missile possesses the capability to strike anywhere in Pakistan and nearly all major cities in China if launched from the Bay of Bengal. The Navy successfully tested the K-4 SLBM for the first time from its nuclear submarine, INS Arighaat. This nuclear-capable missile boasts a formidable range of 3,500 kilometers.
Learn more about India’s heightened focus on preparations, including the construction of 62 ships, as it remains vigilant about Pakistan's navy ambitions bolstered by Chinese assistance.
Watch the astounding launch of this missile in the video here.
Empowering the Nation with a Second Strike Capability
This missile endows the nation with an empowering second strike capability, thereby enhancing the nuclear triad. If the ground conditions are unfavorable, the country can launch submarine attacks, leveraging the power of this missile. Prior to this, the Indian Navy employed the K-15 missile, but the K-4 stands superior with enhanced precision, maneuverability, and operational ease.
The Potent Launch Systems aboard INS Arihant and Arighaat
The INS Arihant and Arighaat submarines are equipped with four vertical launching systems that facilitate the launch of this missile, which weighs 17 tons and spans 39 feet in length. This missile can carry strategic nuclear warheads weighing up to 2,500 kg. It operates on a two-stage solid rocket motor system.
Delve into the prowess of India’s new hypersonic missile that can traverse 3.087 km in a second, dominating half of China and all of Pakistan from the sea.
Source: aajtak
Although its operational range is 4,000 kilometers, India's policy upholds that it will not strike first with nuclear weapons, but it will respond decisively if attacked. The K-4’s capabilities closely parallel that of the Agni-3 intermediate-range ballistic missile, exhibiting remarkable accuracy.
Experts Puzzled Over MIRV Technology Inclusion
Defense experts opine that this missile may not incorporate MIRV technology due to its less extensive range, although future inclusion remains plausible, especially following India's successful March 2024 test of the Agni-V missile equipped with MIRV technology—which enables a single missile to attack multiple targets.
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What’s Next in India’s Strategic Preparation?
India is now contemplating the development of a new missile incorporating MIRV technology, launched from submarines, with a minimum range of 5,000 kilometers. This potential missile could be based on the Agni-5 missile, enabling India to target any location across Asia, including significant parts of Africa, Europe, the Indo-Pacific region, and even the South China Sea.
