(Image source from: defenseworld.net)

India successfully test fired the 3,500 km range K-4 nuclear-capable missile, after several repeated delays which were caused due to various climatic conditions. The missiles are said to be meant for the indigenous Arihant-class submarines.

This is said to be the fourth time from October that the attempt has made by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). the missile which is developed by DRDO would be equipped on a nuclear-powered submarine, indigenous Indian Navy Ship Arihant.

Once inducted, the missiles will be the mainstay of the Arihant class of indigenous ballistic missile nuclear submarines (SSBN) which will be providing the stand off capability for launching the nuclear weapons that are submerged in the Indian waters.

The missile has been tested on Sunday on the east coast, from a submerged, fixed underwater pontoon, and was fired off the coast of Andhra Pradesh, sources told ThePrint.

The sources also said that the missile has been tested several times prior to the launch as a part of the trials of development in order to validate various different parameters.

The K-4 is said to be the most potent missile among the inventions made by India and it can be fired from a submarine. It provides India with unprecedented second-strike capability and immense amount of deterrence power.

Although, India operates K-15 which is a submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM), the range of the missile is limited for about 750km. The working on another missile with much longer range has started, says the DRDO sources.

It is said that K-4 is one of the two underwater missiles which were developed by India for its submarine force, the first one being K-15 Sagarika missiles which had a range of 750km.

The sources say that the missile K-5 will be worked on so that the targets which are 5,000km away can be hit.

By Shrithika Kushangi