New Delhi: India is understood to have tested a nuclear capable nuclear weapon submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM), designed to have a strike range of 3,500 km from the newly commissioned nuclear-powered submarine INS Arighat On Wednesday, Rajat Pandit reports.
However, there has been no official statement on the missile test that took place in Visakhapatnam in the Bay of Bengal in the morning. Sources said it was solid fueled K-4 missile Which was tested from INS Arighat weighing 6,000 tonnes. Over the years the K-4 has so far been tested only from a submersible pontoon.
Sources said a detailed analysis of Wednesday’s test results will reveal whether the missile firing was indeed successful and met the set test objectives and parameters.
A few days ago, India had issued a Public Sector Alert and Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for an intermediate-range missile test over a 3,490-km flight corridor over the Bay of Bengal between November 27 and 30.
INS Arighat, the country’s second nuclear-powered submarine with nuclear-powered ballistic missiles (called SSBNs in naval parlance), was commissioned on August 29. This submarine can carry K-4 missiles, unlike INS Arihant, which has a strike range of only 750 kilometres. Range K-15 missiles.
India plans to induct a third SSBN with a displacement of 7,000 tonnes in the form of INS Aridhman early next year.