New Delhi: Breaking silence over the test fire of the 3,500-km range solid-fuelled K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), Indian Navy chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi said the trajectory was being analysed.
It is learnt that while the missile was launched successfully from INS Arighaat—a nuclear ballistic missile submarine—it may have not met all parameters post that. It is understood that more tests of the missile will take place. The missile launched last Wednesday was tested for almost its complete range across the Bay of Bengal.
Responding to a question Monday on whether the test was a success, Admiral Tripathi said: “Yes, we did carry out a test of the missile. The launch was successful and the agencies concerned are examining as to what trajectory the missile took and we will come back with that answer once that process is completed.”
The Navy chief, who was the first from the government to speak about the test, also said the missile did not carry a warhead.
Though the missile has been tested six times before, this was the first time it was fired from the submarine. Earlier tests were from a fixed underwater pontoon.
While India’s Strategic Forces Command (SFC) operated the INS Arihant with the K-15 SLBM, its range was only 750 km.
This meant while India had completed the nuclear triad—of being able to fire a nuclear ballistic missile from land, air and undersea—the potency was less because of the range.
India is among a select group of nations to have the capability to fire a nuclear missile from land, air and undersea. INS Arighaat is equipped with four launch tubes on its hump and is capable of carrying up to 12 K-15 or four K-4 missiles.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
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