The Indian Navy successfully test-fired the K-4 ballistic missile, with a range of 3,500 km, from the newly commissioned nuclear submarine, INS Arighaat, on Wednesday.
Defence sources confirmed that the test results are currently under analysis, and a briefing for the country’s military and political leadership will follow once the evaluation is complete. This test is a significant step in validating India’s second-strike capability, enhancing its nuclear deterrence.
INS Arighaat, which was inducted into the Indian Navy in August at the Ship Building Centre in Vishakhapatnam, was the platform for the test. Before conducting the full-range test, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) had carried out several trial launches of the missile from underwater platforms.
The Indian Navy is also planning further tests of the missile system. Currently, the Navy operates two nuclear-powered submarines capable of launching ballistic missiles: INS Arihant and INS Arighaat. A third submarine has been launched and is expected to be commissioned next year.